SC Farmers in Race Against the Heat

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Business is in full swing for Joy Cottle, Owner of Cottle Strawberry Farm of Columbia. This year’s warm weather caught her off guard. “A little bit, I came out here to mow about 4 weeks and I looked around and said, “Oh my goodness, look at all the strawberries, I’ve got to open,” I wasn’t ready for it,” says Cottle. Cottle’s family has owned the farm for 30 years. she says they haven’t seen warm weather affect the crops this soon in 20 years. Monday’s 90 degree heat had her working extra hard. “All i grow out here is strawberries so if I get too much heat and I don’t protect these plants and cool them down a little bit, then the strawberries will quit producing,” says Cottle. Cottle says other farmers are feeling the heat too. “We’re all calling each other and saying turn your drip irrigation on, wet these bads,” says Cottle. Martin Eubanks, South Carolina Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture also acknowledges the heat. “It does make the crop grow faster it does make one more suspectible to unstable weather in the spring months,” says Eubanks. Crandall Sims reporting, “The warmer weather has Joy doing things she wouldn’t normally do with the crops this time of year. Take for instance it’s April 2 and she’s already started the cleaning process. Something she says wouldn’t normally start until May, when warmer temperatures are expected. She’s also using this infrared thermometer to monitor the temperature of the crops.” Cottle uses a drip irrigation to keep the crop temperatures, cool. Today, one of them was 146 degrees. “I’ve got to get some water to them pretty quick or they will wilt and die,” says Cottle. So far, the crops are okay. But, the early harvest comes with mixed emotions. “A little excited, but now I’m a little worried because the heat is starting to come back in on us a little bit,” says Cottle. For now, Cottle says she will continue in a race against the heat to keep the crops cool.