Watch CBS News

Some Local Crops Damaged By Nasty Winter

BUTLER COUNTY (KDKA) – A steady stream of customers filed into Shenot Farms in Wexford Monday, looking for the first corn of the season from local farms.

But one thing customers there didn't see was locally grown peaches, thanks to the nasty winter.

"That was just too much for peaches," said Ed Shenot with Shenot Farm and Market. "It froze the buds for this season. We don't have one peach."

Shenot isn't alone either.

Reed Soergel's peach orchard is in Butler County.

"We plan on a bushel to a bushel and a half a tree on this type of system," Soergel said.

But this year, they say they didn't get any fruit either.

In fact, Soergel says apricots and cherries took it hard too.

"We're going to have to try to bring some peaches in," Soergel said.

But that will mean a higher price.

And it's the more recent weather that Soergel says is a concern on the farm and in backyard gardens.

"All the diseases spread with rain," Soergel said. "And those spores are in with water, so every time it rains, those spores spread."

Experts say something called late bright is coming our way.

"It's one of those, you go to bed and your tomato plant looks good and you come out in the morning and it's completely dead."

So Soergel says don't wait until you see a problem.

"You're going to want to put your protectants on the tomatoes and potatoes now," Soergel said.

Soergel says he thinks he'll have tomatoes and Shenot says he's not too worried about his crop either.

One final point, in addition to treating your tomatoes, Soergel says stake them and time them up. It gives them a better chance to fight the virus.

RELATED LINKS
Farmer's Stakeout Leads To Arrest Of Suspected Scrap Metal Thieves
More Local News

Join The Conversation, Like KDKA On Facebook
Follow KDKA On Twitter

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.