Farmers continue to adjust to scorching heat wave in Washington County

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) — As temperatures continue to rise, and the official start of summer begins, farmers in Western Maryland are continuing to brave the heat wave.

Farmers tell DC News Now that no matter the heat, there is still plenty of work to be done.

“I’m just not a big fan of hot weather but we try to get things done as quickly as possible in the afternoon so you can get back inside where it’s cool,” Brian Forsythe said.

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Forsythe, the owner of Linden Hall farm, said it is essential to also keep his livestock cool.

“Ours go out to the pasture for a couple of hours in the afternoon and they get under the shade trees,” Forsythe said. “We try to get them out there to get the barn cleaned out and bring them back in with the fans where they have plenty of water.”

When it comes to his produce, the heat can be good and bad. But the lack of rainfall is what Forsythe sees as a possible problem.

“As long as we have sufficient moisture, it’s okay. Corn loves to grow in hot weather,” Forsythe said. “But as long as it continues to get rain, it will be okay, but if it stays like this in the 90s with no rain, it’s a different story.”

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If the extreme heat continues, Forsythe fears it will alter the size of his peaches and apples and leave him with no way to get water to his other crops.

“The biggest thing is just rain,” Forsythe said. “I can irrigate some but not enough, so that’s my only fear.”

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