By Clint Thompson
Flooding issues in South Florida are impacting farming operations across the region.
“For sure, planting schedules will be a little bit delayed, because it’s just too hard to go into the fields right now,” said Anna Meszaros, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension commercial horticulture agent in West Palm Beach, Florida.
High rainfall totals have been recorded this week, especially in South Florida and along the east coast. It was reported as a generational rain event with so much moisture in so little time. Some areas reported rain totals in the teens.
While the totals have not been that high where Meszaros is located, the persistent rains have halted plantings in the area and will continue to do so until it stops. She discussed what vegetable crops are currently being planted.
“You have a little bit of everything. The sweet corn is ongoing. The lettuce is ongoing. The radish is ongoing, and there’s snap beans in this area. Then along the coast, the sandy soils, all the peppers and some cucurbits, tomatoes,” Meszaros said. “It depends on the county.”
This week’s increased rainfall follows an unpredictable pattern of weather events for South Florida producers.
“We had a dry summer. Then right at the time when the growers started to plant, we got some rain again,” Meszaros said. “We had some relief, and then again it’s just raining and raining. How I see it right now, it will delay some planting schedules a little bit. But to what extent, I can’t say.”