Yuma crops could be affected by storm
The agriculture community took a hit during the showers that a ffected the desert southwest.
Farmers who began planting in September for the winter season are facing delays.
Within the fresh produce industry, farmers need to plant every day to harvest every day or it leads to issues down the road, according to Paul Brierley, executive director for the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture.
“That means on the back end when we’re harvesting, we’re going to have a week with no supply. So we won’t be able to supply the Costco’s, the Safeway’s , and the Subway’s that need fresh supply every day ,” said Brierley.
This could lead to a spike in the price of leafy greens.
Brierley even pointed out the lack of tractor activity on fields nearby the Yuma Center of Excellence for Desert Agriculture.
He added that farmers in the Yuma-area like to be able to control the process.
“Believe it or not, we’d rather not have the rain. We’d rather the rain, rain up in the mountains and send it down the rivers. That’s one of the attributes of Yuma controlling our inputs so we can be pretty exact with the science that we grow crops,” explained Brierley.
