Crops Affected By Heat | Video

Chris Williams | 7/5/2012

Lee Farms in Williston is growing a few different crops, including barley, but the extreme heat and the lack of rain isn`t creating the best growing environment.

"Anytime it gets over 90, 95 degrees it sucks too much moisture out too fast. If it stays below ninety, the crops do rather well cause they need some heat and sunlight to mature," said owner Myron Lee.

Heat and rain are good, but when you have too much of one and none of the other it puts the crops at risk.

"We really like to have an inch of rain every week, but we`ve only had about two and a half inches in the month of June, so it`s getting to the point where we just need rain," Lee added.

Barley isn`t the only crop that needs more water. Although it is time to cut the hay, Lee says it could have used more water this growing season.

"The hay crop this year is not as good as normal. Coming off of last year where it was the best hay crop we`ve ever had. It`s a lot more fun putting up hay when it`s a good crop."

Lee says for crops to stay healthy they need five or six inches of rain in May and June. Three days into July, the crops still don`t have the water they need.

"I think were at four and a half inches or so in may and June. If we could get another inch and half it would finish this early stuff that`s headed out already."

If the rain doesn`t come soon, it could mean money down the drain for Lee.

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