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2012 Drought: A Double-Edged Sword for Some Growers

Experts say the drought of 2012 will go down in the record books, as farmers watch their crops wither away due to lack of rain.  But the moisture shortage may actually be a GOOD thing for some local growers.

%22We%27ve%20had%20a%20lot%20of%20clear%20days%20where%20the%20plant%20was%20a%20lot%20more%20efficient%20with%20producing%20its%20own%20natural%20sugars%20through%20the%20whole%20photosynthesis%20process.%20And%20I%20think%20the%20apples%20have%20got%20a%20really%20good%20flavor%20to%20them%2C%20also.%22

“We’ve had a lot of clear days where the plant was a lot more efficient with producing its own natural sugars through the whole photosynthesis process. And I think the apples have got a really good flavor to them, also.”

Wayne Sirles is vice-president of Rendleman Orchards in Alto Pass. He says the dry conditions have pushed up harvests by a couple of weeks… but the quality of the product is pretty good this year.

Professor Brad Taylor of Southern Illinois University agrees. He says it really boils down to simple science: a lack of water means the photosynthesis process produces more concentrated sugars in the fruit.

Taylor, an expert on grape growing and other fruit crops, says many of the specialty crops this region is known for, peaches, apples and grapes, are able to tolerate extreme heat and dry weather a bit better than corn and beans… so the final harvest numbers won’t be as bleak for these farmers.

Just walking through Rendleman Orchards, you don’t see much evidence of the drought on the apple trees themselves, though the grass is dry and brown and the ground itself is parched and dusty. Sirles says despite that… the trees are right on target – particularly because of a healthy spring.

“We did a good job of thinning the apples to make sure there weren’t too many apples actually on the tree, that the tree couldn’t produce a decently sized apple, because they were overloaded.”

Taylor says good crop management may be the key to success this year. He says trees and vines that weren’t pruned may spend too much of their energy trying to keep fruit alive. But growers who were diligent in the spring will likely see good results over the next several weeks.

This summer’s record heat and record drought could have combined for some very bad yields, but Taylor says things turned around – with a bit of rain and cooler temperatures – at just the right time.

Wayne Sirles, whose farm operation includes numerous varieties of fruits and vegetables, says most of his crops are weathering the drought with some level of success – although he says they lost their entire cucumber crop this year. He says things are looking up for 2012, but there is still the fear of severe weather that may include hail – which could destroy the crop right up to the very last day.

And while there’s really nothing you can do about a random hailstorm at the end of a season, Professor Taylor and his fellow researchers at SIU are working on new groundcover techniques farmers can use to help hold moisture in the soil… so that plants can summers like this one a bit better.

Taylor and others say growing seasons like this one may be rough, but they also provide opportunities to learn and try new things. In the end, consumers may be the overall winners in this year’s stressful environment.  

Jennifer Fuller joined Capitol News Illinois in July 2023 as the organization’s broadcast director. She will oversee the launch and operations of CNI’s new broadcast division.

Contact Jennifer Fuller at jfuller@capitolnewsillinois.com
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