North Alabama’s scorching temperatures and parched terrain pose a significant challenge to farmers, particularly when precipitation plays a vital role in their daily activities. Huntsville, Ala. is no exception to this predicament.
With over half a century of farming experience at Tate Farms in Madison County, Mike Tate is well-accustomed to dealing with extreme heat and dryness. He acknowledges that these conditions are cyclical, but this year, they are having a significant impact on his crop yield.
According to Tate, the current heat wave is causing devastating effects, something that hasn’t been seen to this extreme in about a decade or so. As per News 19, the high temperatures have been persistent this year.
Located in Meridianville, Tate Farms is currently facing an extreme drought that could potentially result in significant losses for farmers.
Tate’s farm cultivates various crops including corn, cotton, and soybean. Unfortunately, the scorching heat has adversely affected the corn crop the most.
Tate gave an explanation about how heat can have a negative impact on corn pollination. “The ears can be greatly affected,” he said.
According to Tate, their irrigation system is only capable of watering a limited portion of their crops, underscoring the crucial role of rainfall for farmers, particularly during this time of year. Having faced similar situations before, Tate is well aware of his crops’ resilience and remains optimistic until the farm receives some much-needed rain.
Tate emphasizes the importance of patience in dealing with crops and extreme weather conditions. As a farmer, one’s success is heavily reliant on the weather patterns, and despite all efforts to care for the crops, lack of moisture can still lead to a failed harvest.
As a farmer with over 50 years of experience, I can confidently say that the lack of rainfall could spell disaster for farmers in North Alabama, regardless of the crops they cultivate. Urgent action is needed to address this issue before it’s too late.
