ORLANDO, Fla. (FNS) -- Drought conditions fueling the wildfires that have ravaged Florida have also had a major effect on summer crops, especially melons and sweet corn, area experts say.
e melons, but they are not as many and not as big as they should be. This will not be a banner year."
Growers who have access to wells and unlimited access to water have fared better than those who do not, as the prime growing region enters a multiweek period without rain. Field reports confirm that there are melons, but they just don't look good.
Sweet corn is another crop for which there is a lot of concern. The weather, with temperatures 10% higher than usual, unexpectedly accelerated the crop's maturing, before growers could have crews in place to pick it.
Tomatoes have not incurred a big loss, Gilmer said, as the crop had all but wrapped up when the temperatures soared. However, Florida growers are keeping a wary eye on citrus crops.
"If the rain doesn't pick up, growers are concerned that citrus crops may not set or keep fruit because of the heat stress," said Gilmer.
