Environment & Energy

Rhiannon12866

(260,975 posts) Tue Jun 23, 2026, 07:50 PM 16 hrs ago

Farmers struggle with crops as climate change makes weather less predictable - PBS NewsHour

More than half of the continental U.S. is facing drought conditions. But other parts of the country are facing the opposite problem. Extreme weather conditions can have major impacts on farmers and their crops at a time when they’re already facing high production costs. Paul Solman recently traveled to southern Georgia to hear from some of those farmers. It's for our series, Tipping Point. - Aired on 06/23/2026.

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Farmers struggle with crops as climate change makes weather less predictable - PBS NewsHour (Original Post) Rhiannon12866 16 hrs ago OP

Those of us who have been gardening for years realize the challenge of growing things consistently well NewHendoLib 16 hrs ago #1

We've gotten two USDA zones hotter here in the past 25 years - not me saying that, it's the map . . . hatrack 15 hrs ago #2

I lived in Raleigh in 1992 - 5 days 90 or above. NewHendoLib 15 hrs ago #3

Wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not . . . hatrack 15 hrs ago #4

My grandfathers were both farmers (especially my maternal grandfather) OKIsItJustMe 7 min ago #5

NewHendoLib

(61,939 posts)

1. Those of us who have been gardening for years realize the challenge of growing things consistently well

Reply to Rhiannon12866 (Original post)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:04 PM

16 hrs ago

hatrack

(65,356 posts)

2. We've gotten two USDA zones hotter here in the past 25 years - not me saying that, it's the map . . .

Reply to NewHendoLib (Reply #1)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:33 PM

15 hrs ago

NewHendoLib

(61,939 posts)

3. I lived in Raleigh in 1992 - 5 days 90 or above.

Reply to hatrack (Reply #2)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:37 PM

15 hrs ago

We moved out in 2019 - 75 days 90 or above!

hatrack

(65,356 posts)

4. Wish I could say I was surprised, but I'm not . . .

Reply to NewHendoLib (Reply #3)

Tue Jun 23, 2026, 08:52 PM

15 hrs ago

Hope this spring went well for you and yours!

OKIsItJustMe

(22,403 posts)

5. My grandfathers were both farmers (especially my maternal grandfather)

Reply to Rhiannon12866 (Original post)

Wed Jun 24, 2026, 11:59 AM

7 min ago

A quarter century ago (or so) I was discussing Climate Change with a person who remarked “I wish we’d learned how to grow food from our grandparents.” I replied, “Even our grandparents couldn’t grow food if the weather didn’t cooperate.”

Just last year, an acquaintance remarked, “I’m just glad we live in a former agricultural region.”

This Spring, the governor applied for disaster relief for our farmers (again) an early thaw was followed by a “late” freeze (again.) It’s becoming an annual ritual.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-requests-disaster-declaration-growers-who-sustained-significant-crop-loss

…

“New York’s growers are second to none and many have taken a significant hit, with some reporting upwards of a 100 percent loss of their crop and millions in economic loss,” Governor Hochul said. “This hardship follows a trend we are becoming all too familiar with — temperature swings that are indicative of our changing climate. This time, our fruit growers are taking the brunt of frost conditions that damaged already blooming buds and shoots. I urge the USDA to take swift action to declare a disaster designation for the impacted counties and help our growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward. I also encourage New Yorkers to continue to support their local growers, whether it’s by buying fresh local products from the farm or purchasing the many products made from New York fruit.”

…

People just don’t get it.

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