HASTINGS, Minn. — More rain is in the forecast and it’s not welcome news to farmers who sell to markets and contribute to Community Support Agriculture, better known as CSAs.
"The weather has been reasonably good except for all the rain," Fresh Earth Farms owner Chris James says.
But James can’t complain too much, after 17 years of farming, he’s learned there's no such thing as perfect weather.
"You just gotta use what nature gives you I guess," James says.
It's especially true this year, with a spring chock full of frost and frequent rain.
"Things that we plant early like peas are going to be late."
Late and harder to find, James says.
Most spring crops like cucumbers, broccoli and cabbage, you’ll likely see them late and fewer of them.
"And I would think the same thing with lettuce, it might be a little bit delayed," James says.
But Memorial Day weekend gave farmers exactly what they wanted, three days of dry weather.
Without those dry days James says some crops could have been nearly a month behind schedule this year.
“We’ve been working long days,” James says. “12 hours yesterday, eight of them on the tractor.”
It's not all bad news though, the rain should help the plants later in the season
"It gives the plants a really nice jump start," James says.
And later crops like peppers and tomatoes should be okay.
“Farmers usually put a premium on tomatoes because they’re so popular with people.”
James’ tomatoes are safe in a hoop house he built on his property.
The structure is made of metal support beams and a thick plastic covering and is designed to protect plants from frost and hail.
But every farmer is different he says, everyone has their own strategies and tricks when it comes to keeping up with the weather.
Where one farmer may struggle, another one may have no problem getting their crops in.
To learn more about Fresh Earth Farms, click here.
To find a CSA farm near you, click here.