“Crop losses between 30% and 80%”

With farmers at the mercy of the weather, Garden State farmers are trying to get by without their most vital resource.

What happens?

A months-long drought in New Jersey has caused stress for farmers, and could lead to shortages and skyrocketing prices, KYW Newsradio reported. The situation would have been much worse if the lack of rainfall had occurred earlier, as many crops had already been harvested.

However, commercial corn and soy as well as cranberries, whose bogs require large amounts of water, were affected. Other sources have indicated that reservoirs, livestock and nurseries needed much more water than they received from recent rains.

“Farmers really need to plant cover crops and grow winter wheat and other things, and that can’t happen until the ground is moist,” Newell Thompson, executive director of the New Jersey Agricultural Society, told KYW on Oct. 31, marking the driest crop of the year State has been closed October since 1895.

Why is this important?

Climate change is causing extreme weather events to become more frequent and severe. These include droughts, floods and wildfires, which have increased exponentially in the state this year.

Of course, the devastating effects of extreme weather conditions also include losses, property damage and reduced crop yields. This can negatively impact prices, availability and even food security.

“We expect crop losses between 30 and 80%, depending on the farm and location,” Thompson told KYW. “It’s drastic, and we really haven’t seen the numbers yet to see what that means in terms of monetary value.”

What is being done about climate change?

New Jersey could get a leg up on other states in this regard. This fall, it became the first state to teach all schoolchildren about the causes and effects of climate change – and how we can work together to slow the rise in global temperatures and mitigate its consequences.

Aside from this education, even small everyday actions can make a big difference. Wash laundry in cold water; Walking, cycling or using public transport instead of cars; and eating plant-based meals all reduce the release of heat-trapping gases into the atmosphere.

🗣️ Should the government be allowed to restrict our water consumption?

🔘 Definitely 💯

🔘 Only in major droughts 🏜️

🔘 Absolutely not 🙅

🔘 I’m not sure 🤷

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As a bonus, each of these steps will save you and more money.

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