WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – This heat wave has had local farmers sweating both from the heat and with worry over their crops.
CHS Northwest agronomist Clay Pehl says berries are especially vulnerable.
“The raspberries are getting a little bit sunburned and really what happens is with this extreme heat the fruit just softens up and the plant starts to shut down,” said Pehl. “We’re seeing a little of kind of what you would see in August as far as plants starting to shut down.”
The raspberry harvest is just about to get into full swing and he says the extent of any damage won’t be known until the crops are taken in.
“It’s sucking the moisture out. It’s essentially a sunburn on the leaf tissue, both the fruit and the green tissue,” said Pehl. “It’s been a rough last couple of days.”
The heat has complicated hiring as its created more hazardous conditions in the fields and on equipment.
He says temperatures in the 70’s expected later this week are very welcome and they’re hoping for rain.