Latest news with #croploss
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Farmers devastated as intense hailstorm wipes out crops: 'We are sad and disappointed that all the efforts made throughout the year result in this'
A devastating hailstorm in Lleida, Catalonia, wiped out 50,000 hectares (about 123,553 acres) of crops, reported Catalan News. Fruit trees and grains were among the crops obliterated by a swift and deadly April hailstorm. This extreme weather reduced farmers' yields to a fraction of their usual output. Salvador Nadal, a local farmer, told Catalan News, "We are sad and disappointed that all the efforts made throughout the year result in this." Fruitnet reported that an estimated 90% of fruit crops were lost in l'Horta d'Alcarràs, a region within Lleida. Pere Roqué, the president of Asaja, an agricultural organization, told Fruitnet that this storm could not only lead to widespread crop loss but job loss as well. As proven in Lleida, extreme weather events can and do damage crop yields. This has been a major cause of global food inflation in recent years, as crop production declines and temperatures rise. Unfortunately, this hailstorm is just one of many that have been pelting Spain. In 2022, ScienceNews reported that huge balls of hail rained down on La Bisbal d'Empordà. They were about five inches wide, a size that scientists deemed impossible in preindustrial times. These increasingly intense storms aren't just flukes. They are a critical climate issue, caused by planet-warming pollution. While major storms and natural disasters are common phenomena, rising global temperatures have rapidly worsened them, making them increasingly difficult to deal with. According to Catalan News, the farmers' trade union is trying to secure financial aid from the Catalan government. With the money, they would install anti-hail nets to protect their crops. At the time of writing, the funds have not yet been secured. If you would like to help on an individual level, consider donating money to climate causes. What is the biggest reason you don't grow food at home? Not enough time Not enough space It seems too hard I have a garden already Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alabama Farmers try to salvage crops after recent rain
TUSCALOOSA, Ala (WIAT) – Farmers are trying to salvage their crops following days of rain. Alice Parker and her husband started Parker Farm and Produce in Northport in 1985. In the property's produce check-out space, a newspaper article from 2013 hangs on the wall, declaring the Parkers as Farmer of the Year for their wide array of fruits, vegetables and spices. If you visit Parker Farms off Boone Road, you'll find zucchini, garlic, potatoes, beans, apples, grapes, muscadines, basil and more. 'We couldn't grow all of this stuff if we didn't sell,' Parker said. Because a farmer's livelihood relies on how much they sell, which is also tied to how much they grow, rain is a concern right now. 'We want them to be profitable, because there's no substantiality without probability,' Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate said. Tree removal expert advises removing dangerous trees before severe weather hits Alabama 'They can't take so many financial hits and continue to grow,' Pate added. Parker is just one of many farmers across the state who have suffered losses due to recent rainfall. 'It has washed out, and we had to replant,' Parker said. Replanting this produce is a much more tedious process than just putting a seed into the ground, especially when farmers have multiple fields to re-seed. 'Your seed cost is about $100 per acre. Then, of course, you get so much rain, then you'll lose some of your fertility, and then erosion,' Wayne Gilliam said. Gilliam comes from a family of farmers. Now, he helps other farmers in his position as Tuscaloosa County Farmers Co-op's general manager. 'We had lots of rain in 1976, but this is the worst rain since then,' Gilliam said. The Parkers' farm sits on a hill, which helped the water run-off a little, but other farms in the area are flooded. 'We've got farmers posting some pictures of just whole fields under water,' Pate said. 'I think you're going to see smaller supplies at our farmers market.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBC
14-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
U-pick-it tulip farm east of Ottawa finds new fields after devastating fungus
Last year, Green Corners farm lost its crop to a fungus called tulip fire. Now they've rebuilt in a new location and are excited to welcome customers.
