Too much rain is bad for farmers business

Historic City News learned from a televised interview with St Johns County farmer Jeff Brubaker, who lives on St Ambrose Church Road in Elkton; that, although his potato fields have been suffering drought conditions, last weekend’s downpours have not offered him any relief.

After months of watching retention ponds shrink and lawns dry up, Brubaker says he needs about ten days of dry weather to harvest what he has in the ground and maybe squeeze out a profit.

Brubaker explained to reporters that when so much rain comes in a short period; it will not run off properly — flooding the potatoes in the field. “It’s like when you put your hand in water too long and it starts to wrinkle — the potato will wrinkle, too.”

Farmers like Brubaker are at the end of potato harvesting season. With rain and wind-exposed potatoes, when you add some heat, farmers have a recipe for disaster. The heat and moisture can cause the crop to spoil and rot before it has been harvested.

Fears of damaging the farm equipment, which can be stuck in the mud, will keep Brubaker’s tractors and harvesting equipment in the shed until conditions improve.