It's been a very mild winter in many parts of the country, causing many plants to bloom early. Unfortunately, this can be disastrous for farmers in some areas, as the cold weather has not yet left.
Despite the month being on track for the mildest March ever recorded, New England farmers are reporting that they fear for their crops, as temperatures are expected to drop again. WBZ-TV in Boston reports that farmers with fruit trees that are blooming early could be in particular trouble this week.
Temperatures could get as low as 15 degrees, which would kill 90 percent of certain types of fruit trees, according to a chart distributed by Michigan State University. Thus, many farmers in New England may have sleepless nights tonight, essentially at the mercy of Mother Nature. Some farmers use an irrigation technique to keep their crops frozen at 32 degrees, which actually protects them from the colder temperatures, but this is not completely reliable.
Farmers who have fallen on hard times may want to consider using the auction site IronPlanet as a way to save money. The agricultural equipment offered on this site is often more affordable than buying new, and the site's IronClad Assurance ensures that farmers know exactly what they're getting.
