September, 1999
by Lee Dean
A severe drought is extending its dusty grip from New England
to North Carolina and west as far as Ohio, taking a toll on fruit growers
in its wake.
The hardest hit area is the mid-Atlantic region. Nearly every county in
Pennsylvania is under an extreme drought. Drought emergencies have been
declared in Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey. Areas of New York are feeling
the heat as well, especially the eastern and southern regions of the state.
The only growers who consistently are benefiting from the hot and dry conditions
are the grape producers. Tree fruit growers report damage ranging from curled
leaves and smaller fruit to tree loss.
Growers who have irrigation are, naturally, in better shape than growers
who do not. State restrictions on water use do not apply to agriculture
at present. Regional water boards, such as those that govern the Susquehanna
and Delaware river basins, could tighten the supply to ag if the situation
worsens. The river basins are requiring growers to register their use of
water if they use more than 100,000 gallons in any 30-day period.
Options for growers, especially ones without irrigation, are limited for
the rest of the season. Extension specialists are recommending hand-thinning
in an effort to get better fruit size and reduce stress on tree, especially
on brittle varieties such as Gala.
Ground cover management is more crucial in a drought situation, said Jerry
Frecon of Rutgers Cooperative Extension.
“Most orchards mowed very close, while other orchards are clean cultivated.
Good weed control is important. The object is just to eliminate the competition,”
said Frecon.
The effects of this drought could extend into the 2000 season. The combination
of a heavy crop and lack of moisture could hamper return flowering for the
following season, according to Rob Crassweller of Penn State University’s
Department of Horticulture.
Growers suffering drought losses are hoping for help from federal disaster
funds and insurance policies. States are asking the USDA for help. The assistance
would likely come in the form of low-interest loans to help cover routine
living expenses, production costs, debt installments and other drought-related
expenses.
The next level of aid is the noninsured crop disaster assistance program
(NAP). NAP aid is a grant, available when yields on a specific crop are
35% or more below normal while the individual farm yield is less than 50%.
NAP compensates growers for 55% of the crop’s established market price.
Drought aid may be included in the farm relief package currently under consideration
by Congress, said Kraig Naasz, president of the U.S. Apple Association.
The Senate has already passed a $7.4 billion farm relief package. The next
action will take place in the House Appropriations Committee after the Labor
Day recess.
“I think it is the intention of some members of that committee to bolster
the package with assistance for drought victims,” said Naasz.
What explains the current rainfall shortage? One theory blames it on the
La Nina climatological phenomenon, according to Keith Eggleston, regional
climatologist with the Northeast Regional Climate Center at Cornell University.
However, other factors helped set the stage for the drought. The second
half of 1998 was very dry in most of the East. January saw plentiful precipitation,
but dry weather has persisted since.
The current drought is being compared with one that lasted from 1964-1966
and another in 1931. Other droughts have been scattered through the century,
but none as widespread or long-lasting.
Steady rains now would be too late for some crops, while for others a solid
two days of rain followed by a return to normal precipitation patterns would
at least help prevent further damage. That would also help replenish groundwater
levels.
“We’ve had some reports of wells going dry,” said Eggleston.
“If precipitation continues to be below normal, that will be reported
a lot more. That’s going to take a little bit longer to turn around.
“
Eggleston said the long-range forecasts for the region through October call
for a better than average chance of above normal precipitation. The forecast
is partly based on a hurricane season expected to be more active the normal.
Remnants from these storms would carry more precipitation to the region,
possibly without the damaging winds.
