Arizona farmers say Hurricane Kay could destroy crops, lead to higher produce prices

YUMA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) — Hurricane Kay has made landfall in Mexico as a Class One storm. It hit the west coast of the central Baja California Peninsula with winds of 75 mph. It’s anticipated to weaken in a single day, however we might see some impacts from that storm right here in Arizona. Some state farmers fear about what it might do to their crop, which might in the end result in increased costs on the grocery retailer.

A Yuma farmer we spoke with says these storms can doubtlessly hike the worth of produce or impression how a lot meals will likely be accessible for us on the retailer. So at this level, it’s a ready recreation. “It’s about 105 levels proper now,” mentioned John Boelts, the proprietor of Desert Premium Farms in Yuma.

Some Arizona farmers are already coping with broken crops due to the acute warmth and are actually getting ready for a giant change over the subsequent 24 to 48 hours, with their eyes on Kay. “We’re within the technique of planting all the lettuce that may harvest in November proper now. So it could disrupt our planting plans and definitely disrupt a number of issues when we now have rainfall right here in a spot the place we don’t usually depend on having any rainfall,” Boelts mentioned.

He says farmers welcome the rain, however on this case, the potential of an excessive amount of in such a short while might be dangerous. “It could actually wipe out an entire crop fairly simply,” Boelts mentioned. “When the fruit is getting bigger and mature, you may get recognizing and injury and generally fungus will start to develop.”

Boelts says date and cotton harvests are underway proper now. His concern is the unknown of how robust the storm will likely be when it reaches his farm. “We wrestle with cotton harvest as a result of if we get actual intense storms, it could injury the crop and take the cotton proper off of the crop and put it on the bottom and at that time, there’s no option to get it,” Boelts mentioned.

Philip Bashaw is the Arizona Farm Bureau’s CEO, representing 2,400 farmers and ranchers. “About 90% of the leafy greens consumed in america within the winter months really come from Yuma Arizona,” Bashaw mentioned.

He says climate impacts each farmer in a different way. It’s a domino impact, finally impacting the patron. John explains how. “These climate circumstances we skilled right here will end in restricted provide and far increased costs in November,” Boelts mentioned.

John says in an ideal world, the rain would fall north of him, within the Colorado River Valley, an space hit onerous with water cuts by the federal authorities.

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