Syracuse, NY– Temperatures in Central New York are falling from the upper sixties to below freezing today. These temperatures are no stranger to CNY in February, but the shift in one day is one farmers and local crop producers have to be mindful of.
Michael Hough, Greenhouse Manager at SUNY ESF, spends most of his days making sure the greenhouse climate is under control. However, on a day like today he has to put in extra work. The greenhouses are made to withstand the CNY cold but with warmer temperatures earlier in the year, he has to be prepared to keep the plants alive.
The main concern a greenhouse manager like Hough has is how to keep plants from becoming susceptible to disease.
Hough says, “For weather like we have now, it’s very warm during the day then it gets cold. We have rain now. We have a cold front coming through. So that can really trigger a number of pathogens on the plants.”
If plants have to fight off disease, the cost of production sky rockets with it. This can be seen through a rise in grocery prices. Brisa Sanchez, a Syracuse University Junior, is worried that grocery prices will increase due to the weather, noting she has already seen a recent increase in the cost of produce.
Sanchez says, “I feel like as a student it’s hard to afford like always getting like the healthy options when literally like strawberries are like 6, 8 dollars in the little basket. And like they’re little, they’re just not really sweet or like the consistency you would like them to be.” Its unpredictable weather patterns like what Central New Yorkers are seeing today that are leading to more expensive local produce.
Hough says it is even worse for farmers who grow their produce outside. Unexpected freezes after a string of warm days will have plants kept outdoors at an even greater risk for disease. While he is thankful to be working inside, he knows the difficulties farmers may face. Hough says, “It sounds probably bigger for outdoor agriculture. I think drought, drought effects the outside temperature, drought is a concern. And then the cold weather can often lead to diseases, fungal diseases. Things like powdery mildew can be induced by the weather.”
