2012
LOGAN COUNTY FARM OUTLOOK MAGAZINE. LINCOLN DAILY NEWS.com October 23, 2012
30
vintners are looking forward to a special
year for their wine.
“
My winter squash is hardy, and the rain
from the hurricane saved my tomatoes,”
Wachter added.
Hans Bishop, in his third year of growing
organic vegetables on 10 acres at PrairiErth
Farm, east of Atlanta, worked harder than
ever to get a crop ready for the Bloomington
and Urbana farmers markets. He also has
a growing client list for his community-
supported agriculture program.
In a CSA program, a farmer presells his
crop of fruits and vegetables to customers
who agree to buy a specified amount during
the growing season.
“
My early crops were good -- those from
late winter, early spring,” Bishop said. They
included squash, lettuce, radishes, carrots,
beets and turnips.
Then, as the heat ramped up, the crops
began to suffer.
Once a crop is harvested, that field is not
used again until the next season. Bishop
plants cover crops on the recently harvested
plots so the soil is replenished. But the lack
of rain and intense summer heat damaged
the cover crop.
Bishop said the heat was the main
issue this year because it caused sporadic
germination of crops.
He did use a drip irrigation system to
try to mitigate the drought conditions, but
it is not a perfect solution. The hoses in
the irrigation system have to be moved
continually to cover all of the crops that
need water, and the small holes in the hoses
that let water trickle out tend to get plugged,
requiring additional attention to keep the
system working. Also, the irrigation system
uses electricity to pump water from the well,
creating an additional expense.
Still, Bishop is upbeat about the season,
recognizing that this is an unusual year. His
hard work, adaptive methods of growing
produce and the late-season rain saved his
crop.
PrairiErthCSAcustomersalwaysreceived
their orders and were understanding when
he explained the trials of farming caused by
the 2012 drought and heat and the impact
on his crops.
When we visit the farmers markets and
greet the smiling vendors behind tables
loadedwithbeautifulandseeminglybountiful
produce, it is important to remember that
long hours and strenuous work in the
fields were necessary. This year’s unusual
weather produced the additional burden
of anxiety for farmers whose livelihood
depends to a great extent of the vagaries of
Mother Nature.
[
Curt Fox]
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