Drought conditions hamper Knox County farmer’s crop yield

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Heat and drought conditions are continuing into the weekend with no slowdown in sight. These conditions are now impacting East Tennessee farmers as crops struggle to grow.

The recent heat wave and ensuing drought in East Tennessee have made it hard for farmers to grow crops. The most recent drought monitor from the 6 Storm Team shows our entire viewing area under some form of drought.

Gary Houze, the owner of G and G Farms, said this entire growing season has been tough.

“We’ve had three or four catastrophic things happen this year,” Houze said. “Between the snow, late cold, a lot of rain, and now the heat, so I guess four things have really affected us this year. It’s not been our best year.”

The yield of crops at G and G Farm is nowhere near what the farm was last year. The drought is now impacting how they can help a local non-profit.

“I think sales are going to be half of what they were last year. We just simply don’t have what we had last year,” Houze said. “We have sold fresh produce to Second Harvest earlier in the year, a lot of romaine lettuce because it was still cool. We grew a lot of lettuce but it was grown in our beds.”

Despite the scorching temperatures in the open field, G and G Farms has been able to churn out some produce thanks to raised beds.

“It started with the fact that we have greenhouses over there and we do most of our plants from seed,” Houze said. “We try not to buy too many plants. Although, this year because of the severe late cold. It’s more shaded here and also it’s grown in beds so we can control the moisture leakage and control the soil a little bit better and we hand water it.”

Houze added although his family may not be impacted, the food pantries and non-profits that rely on fresh produce will feel the pinch.

“I think it’s going to affect those who want good fresh produce and especially the food pantries,” he said. “That was a real win-win there. It was federal money from the USDA given to the states to buy from local farmers to take care of local people in need and that was just a super win-win.”

The farm does have irrigation, however, the ground is so dry the soil is taking the water away from the plant’s roots.

According to the National Weather Service out of Morristown, this is the worst mid-July drought we have had from 2017 on.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.