Early warm weather impacts Upstate farmers' crops
ANDERSON, S.C. (WSPA) – While local farmers love the sunshine and warm weather, the early warm weather has caused them to rethink their crop growing schedules.
Though the spring fake out can be nice for enjoying the outdoors, it can complicate how farmers grow their crops.
Farmers at Denver Downs Farm said summer crops are being planted earlier this year; they said they are using the time to improve the irrigation system due to the chance of a drought later this year.
'I always call this a fake spring,' said Catherine Garrison Davis, co-owner of the Denver Downs Farm. 'We're making sure we get that taken care of right now so we can plant earlier in April and have a beautiful crop of sunflowers and lavender this summer.'
Denver Downs Farm is known for growing corn, sunflowers, lavender and mums to sell to customers.
Garrison Davis said preparing ahead of time ensures the farm is ready for annual activities.
'We're planning to move the Sunflower Festival. If the sunflower crop cooperates with us [then] we're going to be having the Sunflower Festival early in June, rather the end of June, so that when people come out to pick sunflowers, that they'll be in bloom and that it'll be a little bit cooler and more comfortable for them to enjoy the day,' she said.
Researchers said early warm weeks are beneficial for some crops – but it's a different story for others.
'The warm weather is allowing people who have smaller plant sizes to be able to start fertilizing sooner,' said County Extension Agent Andy Rollins. 'Once you initiate that growing season for a peach, the more that we get into bloom and early fruiting stage, we can get killed by freeze. We can lose our entire crop with peaches because we only have one flower bud that's set so it doesn't really make new flower buds within the season.'
Warmer weather does increase the chance of pests and diseases; farmers at Denver Downs plan to invest in the appropriate treatment.
'We are subject to Mother Nature,' said Garrison Davis. 'Whatever she has in store for us, we'll be ready for it.'
Researchers said the Upstate has reached the 'chill' requirement, but are concerned for Georgia peach growers who may not.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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