Video transcript: Central New Yorkers feel harsh effects of drought conditions
Lauren Holdmeyer: Central New York is in the middle of an unusual dry stretch, and community members are starting to feel the effects. Farms with growing crops and communities operating on wells are anxiously awaiting an early fall storm. I spoke with one farmer right here in Syracuse who’s dealing with the impacts every day.
Holdmeyer: Dirt, dust and dryness…
Dave Vollmer: I’ve been worried about it all summer!
Holdmeyer: Drought conditions throughout the region are causing turmoil for Central New Yorkers. Syracuse’s last measurable rainfall was in June, and farmers in particular are feeling the impact.
Vollmer: In August, the ground got so hard that the crops actually started to go backwards. They grew a little bit in June, July, and then they just started to go backwards.
Holdmeyer: These drought conditions have had a major effect on crops typically harvested now, like these tomatoes. Dave, the owner of Vollmer farms, says this has been detrimental to his business.
Vollmer: People come for pick your own, and we’ve had a lot of people who come here for their canning tomatoes. A lot of people still do that in this area, and I’ve actually had to buy some in just to resell them. So, instead of selling mine, I’m paying for them to bring them in.
Holdmeyer: Now, experts say more than four inches of rain is needed to make up for the dry summer. Meteorologist Ben Lott says the scattered showers throughout this week won’t be enough to do it.
Ben Lott: They’re not going to bring significant rainfall, but of course, anything would help.
Holdmeyer: Governor Hochul’s office is monitoring this issue, saying, quote, “New York State experts are closely monitoring data and conditions on the ground to safeguard our water supplies and recommend appropriate action, which now includes taking simple steps everyone can do to help conserve water.” But until the region gets a significant storm, the community is still on high alert.
Holdmeyer: Syracuse is picking up a little bit of rain this week, but meteorologists are unsure it will be enough to make up for more than three months worth of dry conditions.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) – Central New York is in the midst of an unusual dry spell, and residents are beginning to feel the effects. Farms with growing crops and communities that rely on wells are watching the skies anxiously, hoping for relief.
Syracuse recorded its first measurable rainfall, on Sept. 23, since June of this year — topping out at about 0.19 inches. This week’s showers will help, but considering Central New York is more than four inches short on rain, the region still has a ways to go.
“[The storms] are not going to bring significant rainfall, but of course, anything would help,” Meteorologist Ben Lott said.
Farmers in particular are feeling the pressure. Dave Vollmer, the owner of a local farm here in Syracuse, said the dry conditions throughout the last several months have made his normal harvests significantly difficult.
“It’s been really total,” Vollmer, the owner of Vollmer Farms said. “We don’t irrigate, and I have tomatoes and pumpkins in the field. This year without rain, the ground just got so hard.”
Vollmer said that due to the lack of produce his tomato crops have grown throughout the summer, he’s had to buy in tomatoes from outside sources to keep his business alive. “Pick-your-own” and canning tomatoes are two of Vollmer’s top-selling products at the farm.
Syracuse is expected to get more rainfall throughout the remainder of this week. With two to three more inches, the region could successfully escape the ongoing drought conditions.