Video: Wet, cold weather weakening Washington state berry crop – ‘We’ve never had to deal with this before in my lifetime’
By JAKE WHITTENBERG, KING 5 News
10 May 2011 WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. – Our La Niña winter is starting to show its affect on area crops. Berry farmers in Whatcom and Skagit Counties are struggling to deal with unusually cold and wet weather. Some berry farmers report being about three weeks behind on their harvest. “We are concerned,” said Brad Rader, Vice President and General Manager of Rader Farms in Lynden. “If we don’t start seeing some warmer weather and sunshine, we could get way behind.”
That would mean less tonnage, which means less money out of the raspberry crop.
The bad weather is also difficult for dairy farmers. Much of the grass used to feed dairy cows is too water damaged to pull from the field so farmers are forced to purchase more expensive feed for their animals.
The National Weather Service says temperatures in Whatcom County remain very cold for this late in the spring season. A lingering La Niña weather pattern is causing below normal temperatures across most of the northern U.S.
