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No one group is more tuned in to climate change than farmers. Whether or not you believe it is a direct result of carbon dioxide emmissons or just natural forces at work, it is impossible to deny that climate change is upon us. In talking with Steve Wood at Poverty Lane Orchards in Lebanon NH a couple of years ago, he observed that the number of hail events that wiped out apple crops in New Hampshire in the past five years had exceded all in New Hampshire for the previous twenty five years that he had grown apples. Without question, our summer storms in the past five years have become increasingly violent with microbursts, downdrafts and tornadoes accompanied by some mighty impressive lightning. Three years ago Peter Van Berkum”s native plant greenhouse and nursery in Deerfield, NH was hit by a tornado that gave a newly heightened meaning to the verb “trashed”. Again, this years weather patterns have put the hurt on farms throughout NH and Vermont (check out the photos of the Skovsted’s carnage at www.joesbrookfarm.com). We here thusfar have been spared a hit from some of these storm cells that in this modern age we can now watch developing and tracking on our computers. Not only do we check the computer to look for what might happen to us, but we have the unpleasant advantage now of knowing which of our farming neighbors is getting whacked. On the flip side, the computer allows us farmers the ability to stay connected to one another in the greater agricultural community at a time of year when it seems hard to find the time to get to the store to get toilet paper and dish washing soap. Farmers now have list serves as well, and this past week some of the more fortunate farmers who had extra field transplants were able to coordinate getting plants to our less fortunate friends who got clobbered.
But its not just the dramatic storm events that wear down farmers. The 2011 growing season hasnt even gotten underway for some farmers yet. Up in the Champlain Valley and Addison Countys of Vermont dairy farmers are still mired in the fields trying to plant corn and not being able to cut hay. Steady rains coupled with snow melt have created flooding and tied them up for well over a month. Farmers in the seacoast areas of NH and southern Maine at the same time are getting their crops shredded by hail. Meanwhile, we are irrigating crops because its dry. As the guys in the field would say ”We’re eating dust and burning diesel”, trying to keep the young transplants alive. With all the storms, flooding and tornadoes that tore up Cabot and Barnet Vermont and dumped 8″ of rain,we got all of .3 of an inch of rain and we are less than 60 miles away. Pretty fickle weather.
The important point to recognize is this; we as farmers are not in control. People call up asking when the berries will be ready.They wonder why this farm has good squash and another doesnt. Its all about the weather. I can only make sure that I plant the seed, provide fertility,keep ‘em somewhat pest free. Beyond that is luck and forces that are 
out of our control.
