The extremely mild weather this winter is having an effect on many outdoor industries, and farmers in regions that didn't have an especially cold winter are growing concerned about early blooms.
The warm weather means that winter crops such as wheat and apples could arrive ahead of schedule. While this may seem beneficial to those not in the agriculture industry, having the crop exposed to the elements could be disastrous. For example, the Journal Times in Wisconsin reports that wheat in the area is likely to come up a few weeks early. However, if temperatures drop after the wheat begins to show, it could kill the crop quickly.
"It’s too early to tell yet," Racine County Farm Bureau President Keith Jacobson told the news source. "As long as we don’t get a cold spell, we’re probably all right."
It's a similar situation with apple orchards. Typically, apples are available for picking by mid-May, but April seems more likely given the recent weather. A few cold days in April could potentially ruin the crop.
If farmers are worried about an early harvest, they may want to invest in more agricultural equipment in order to pick their crops quickly so they can store them. The online auction website IronPlanet offers a wide variety of used agricultural equipment, like combine harvesters, at prices that are often more affordable than buying new.
