Lack of rain expected to impact crop yield
Farmers are facing the possibility of lower than normal crops yields due to the lack of rain in what the National Weather Service classifies as a moderate drought.
A little less than 12.5 inches of precipitation has fallen so far this year leaving the region with almost 4.5 fewer inches than normal.
Amplified by no rainfall in three weeks, the drought is impacting crops and is causing pastures to “burn out” like so many lawns.
Dry spring weather allowed farmers to plant seeds early this year, and the crops grew, but growth has stalled, said Andy Gaver, district conservationist for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service in Connoquenessing Township.
“I think in most cases all crops have germinated and started to grow, but stalled out due to lack of rain,” Gaver said.
Moisture in the ground from winter snowfall combined with the little rain that fell in early spring will allow farmers who grow hay to have a good first cutting, he said.
