Local farms discuss the impact of heat on land and cattle

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL)—High temperatures this week have been challenging for local farmers and gardeners, as the heat is damaging crops and cattle.

“I’ve never seen it be so dry so early,” said Joseph Redman, Owner of Grace Meadows Farms. “You talk to a lot of farmers around here, and their cattle are struggling with the heat.”

The heat can be dangerous for livestock; Redman said there are a few things farmers can do to keep their cattle cool, hydrated and safe.

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“Definitely having the shaded areas, keeping mineral out, and keeping feed out,” said Redman. “We have started feeding hay, which is unheard of this time of year.”

Redman told News Channel 11 that it’s important to frequently check on the cows and ensure they have enough water throughout the day.

“There’s a lot of cattle in Washington County and the surrounding counties and a lot of farmers,” said Redman. “They need to do what they can do to keep their cattle hydrated and safe.”

David Wiley, Owner of Serenity Knoll Farms, grows a lot of fruits and vegetables. Thankfully, this year, he hasn’t had too many crops die from the heat.

“We had copious amounts of rainfall in April and May, and then it was kind of marginal during June,” said Wiley. “But now we’re in a real drought.”

A high tunnel is one tool Wiley uses to keep his produce safe from the sun.

“The high tunnel, is a whole different growing environment because it is sheltered from the sun,” Wiley. “We can somewhat control the temperature in there because we have circulating fans and we also have ventilation fans on the end of the high tunnel, so it’s more of a controlled environment.”

Temperatures next week could reach triple digits.

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