SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – It has been a hot summer in Onondaga County. The heat, combined with the scattered thunderstorms, has created the perfect conditions for Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a drought watch. Onondaga County was one of the 21 counties in New York that were placed under the drought watch.
Residents in Onondaga County are being urged to limit their water usage to minimize the shortage in the area. Local farmers, however, can not adhere to those recommendations.
With the above average temperatures, Reeves Farms in Baldwinsville has increased irrigation. Nolan Reeves, the farm’s Operations Manager, says that this increased irrigation has used a lot of energy.
“I can put water on, but it just means more fuel, more work for me,” said Reeves.
Reeves Farms has local water reserves, like the Seneca River, that allows them to maintain their crops during dry spells.
The farm also uses drip irrigation on a majority of their crops. This waters crops directly at the root, which prevents evaporation and conserves water Reeves says.
There is a silver lining for Reeves Farms. They have been hit by the majority of the thunderstorms that have come through Central New York. This has taken some of the burden off of their natural water sources and saved them money on extra irrigation.
Reeves knows how some farmers who were not so lucky with the rain are feeling.
“In 2016, I don’t think it was a drought watch, but all those thunderstorms, they all missed me. I was running out of water then and I was getting real nervous,” said Reeves.
Although they have been lucky with some rain, the cost of the heat is evident. Reeves Farms hopes that they continue to get lucky with the scattered storms predicted in the next few weeks.
The Department of Environmental Conservation has provided tips to conserve water. They are urging residents in counties with a drought watch to limit their water usage to avoid a severe shortage.
