Warm winter weather source of uncertainty for local farm
By Mallory Lane
There’s something different in the air this winter – heat. Iseley Farms owner Jane Iseley says the warm weather has been a bit of a burden.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Iseley said. “I really don’t.”
Just a short golf cart ride down the gravel driveway, you come to a field of white tarps. Under those tarps are strawberries. The tarps are used for protection.
“It keeps them about 8 degrees warmer under the canvas than it would be without the canvas,” Iseley said.
But because the temperatures vary from place to place, it makes it difficult to determine whether to take the covers off the crops or not.
“In town they talk that it’s going to be 36 degrees,” Iseley said. “Well that is at an airport someplace and those temperatures are taken at five feet above the ground.”
Phoenix14 News spoke to WGAL weatherman, Doug Allen, who said the temperatures will remain the same the next few weeks. But temperatures aren’t the only concern for Jane.
“Strawberries cost $18,000 to put in,” Iseley said. “We’ve got four acres down there, so we’ve got a big investment.”
For now all she can do is wait, but Iseley said she is optimistic about the upcoming strawberry season.
Tags: Elon University, farming, Iseley Farms, Mallory Lane, Phoenix 14 News, warm winter weather
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