Heat, lack of rain combine for rough season for NJ farmers

    This season’s intense heat and dry conditions are proving to be a nasty combination for many farmers in southern New Jersey.

    According to a story from CBS 3 and KWY Newsradio, farmers are working around the clock to irrigate fruits and vegetables, which adds cost and exhaustion for growers.

    Burlington County Extension Department head Raymond Samulis tells KWY one of the county’s main crops, cranberries, are irrigated not only to keep them moist and cool, but to prevent what is called “sun scald.”

    The hot weather is forcing many farmers to irrigate daily, which requires work throughout the day and night.

    • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

    WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

    Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

    Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal