Farmers adapt to variable weather all the time in managing their farms and crops. Here are a couple of articles I ran across recently which describe two ways that farmers have used to improve their bottom line.
Vegetable Growers News published an article on the use of high tunnels by South Carolina producers to extend the length of the growing season to grow high-value crops. While farmers are already using high tunnels for some crops, Clemson University Extension agent Zachary Snipes shows that they can increase profitability for farmers who provide vegetables beyond the normal time period for open-air crops.
VGN posted a separate article on the value of planting in taller, thinner crop beds, based on some research by University of Florida scientists. Using plastic coverings and drip tapes, they showed that using more compact beds reduced the need for drip tapes from two to one and also reduced the use of other inputs like fungicides, decreasing input costs and improving the economics of production.
