The southeastern part of the US is getting a later start with row crop seeding due to the wet spring and cooler than normal temperatures this year. It’s crunch time, and farmers are struggling to get early vegetable crops in.
Early spring vegetable crops need adequate soil temperature and growing time before harvest, and the cooler temperatures are delaying crop maturity and harvest dates. The delay will push back scheduled planting of the next rotation of crops; cotton and peanuts (planted in the same fields) resulting in more delays and problems for farmers operating on tight schedules. For example, watermelons have to be planted in time for harvest before the July 4th holiday, and the wetter fields and cooler temperatures are adding more problems than normal farmers are challenged with every year.
In farming the only thing consistent is change and how fast and effectively you adapt to changes determines your success.