How Central Texas farmers are coping with days of intense heat
WILLIAMSON COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — With more than a week of intense heat, local farmers said they've had to take extra measures to keep their crops and livestock safe.
Sweet Eats Fruit Farm in Georgetown hosts row upon row of flowers, vegetables, and fruit that guests can pick. The triple-digit heat has lead to extra water sessions for its produce, said Mau Morales, the farm's agricultural manager.
"We used to irrigate them maybe once a week or every other week, but now we have to irrigate two times per week. That's for all our products," Morales said.
The farm is hosting its Sunflower festival during this latest heat wave. Jonni Meredith, co-owner, said customers have adapted what times they come in to pick their lot.
"They come out to see our animals, and see the property, and pick fruits and veggies and do all the things earlier in the day. We have field trips, they're scheduled earlier in the day," Meredith said.
The farm also has a petting zoo where Meredith serves as the animal manager. She said the amount of water given to the farm's animals has also been ramped up the last few days.
Other measures, like misters and fans, have also been set up for their more heat-sensitive animals.
"Another thing that we do, especially for our bunnies is put a fan on them. We have a fan on our bunny hutch so that even at night, we can get some good airflow through there," Meredith said.
Is the heat hurting Texas crops?
Gary Joiner with the Texas Farm Bureau says if Texas crops are hurt by this latest heat wave, it's likely they will be row crops. He says corn, feed-grains like sorghum, and hay could be the most affected as they are more susceptible to draught conditions.
"Those varieties are planted in a timely way to hopefully avoid some of the most strenuous periods of high heat, but they are also victimized by high temperatures, dry conditions, when moisture is not present. Those those crops suffer," Joiner said.
Despite the heat, Joiner says a year of rain has been good for crops in the Lone Star state. He says the wet spring the state has experienced will help crops endure the summer heat.
"This year, we're on a better streak. We have more rainfall in areas of our state than we have had and that has given them an advantage going into the dry cycle," Joiner said.