The Specialty Crop Industry newsletter posted a story this week by Clint Thompson describing some of the negative effects of the recent heat wave on vegetable crops in Alabama (and by extension, most of the rest of the Southeast as well). Sunscald was seen on some watermelons, and the high temperatures sped up the tomato season, ripening them all at once. The high temperatures and not the dry conditions we have seen this year were the cause of reduced yields in vegetable crops, since most producers use irrigation to make sure their crops stay healthy. You can read more at Southeast Alabama Specialty Crops Fizzle Under High Temperatures – Specialty Crop Industry.
