At Previtera Farms in Harrisonville, New Jersey, it was a race against time Friday to loosen the soil in the field and get wheat in the ground.
“This is the driest autumn I can ever remember,” said Alfio Previtera. “We put it off for a while because it was so dry and we were waiting for some rain, which never came, so now we have to do it.”
Previtera said wheat is typically planted in October. The cover crop is crucial to prevent wind and water erosion in winter, but the dry weather has slowed farmers. In recent weeks, Previtera said he also had to fight fires in the fields caused by agricultural machinery.
“Luckily the field was harvested so we didn’t lose any crop, but it came close… we were afraid it would reach the houses,” he said.
At Exley’s Christmas Tree Farm in Monroeville, Friday was the last day of irrigation as Bill Exley prepared to winterize the equipment before the cold weather.
“In all the years I’ve been involved, I’ve never had to water so much and so late,” Exley said. “We’ve actually been monitoring and watering since September.”
Exley said it takes about eight to 10 years for a Christmas tree to fully mature. The dry weather has not had a major impact on the larger trees, but has put more pressure on the younger and smaller trees.
“Those are the ones we have to worry about losing one or two,” Exley said.
Exley said the Christmas trees are ready for the season, but he and other farmers hope the effects of the dry weather won’t carry over into next year.
“We desperately need rain!” Previtera said.
