Ask plant science questions and get answers. Over the eight months ending in August, most of the state was down 10-12 inches in precipitation. Dairy farmers need water for animals to drink and also need to store enough food for the winter. This means at least three cuttings of the fields for hay. The drought dried up the hayfields in August.
Many cranberry growers flood the bogs at harvest time.
The berries float to the surface where they are collected. In the apple orchards fruits are smaller, and some orchardists are reporting fruit drop. Trees may be more susceptible to disease. In the vineyards, grape harvest began mid-September. Rain at harvest causes fruits to swell and crack, and may encourage fungus.