By Jacob Lange
NKyTribune intern
Northern Kentucky has had quite a rain-filled summer so far, which has caused many local farmers to call an audible.
Instead of selling whole crops to grocery stores, some local growers have shifted focus to farmers’ market sales.
Boone and Campbell County recorded precipitation on 31 days between June 1 and July 31, according to the Kentucky Mesonet, which averages out to rain every other day.
The Kentucky Mesonet is a network of automated weather and climate monitoring stations being developed by the Kentucky Climate Center at Western Kentucky University.
In that time span, Boone County received 11.67 inches of precipitation, an increase of 3.6 inches from the same period in 2014. Campbell County received 10.07 inches of rain during the time frame, also a significant increase from the 4.54 inches that fell during the period in 2014.
The increase in rainfall has made the summer months difficult for growers at several farms in Boone County.
“It’s definitely been a tough year,” said Jim Scott of Scott Farm in Burlington. “The rain has affected all types of farmers. Some farmers who don’t grow full time have lost whole crops.”
Kinman Farms, also located in Burlington, was not able to plant zucchini cucumbers this summer because of the excessive rainfall. The farm also had to wait longer than usual to plant its pumpkins and squash, but still expect them to be ready for the fall season.
McGlasson Farm, located in Hebron, has also run into some troubles throughout the summer growing season. Lon McGlasson, a sixth-generation farmer, was unable to plant pumpkins until a week later than usual but says, “They’ll be just fine.”
McGlasson went on to say that the rain the past few months was a “nuisance” but the farm has still been able to maintain its crops and have them freshly available for customers who visit its roadside market.
Scott Farm and McGlasson Farm are both located close to the Ohio River, which provides a more sandy soil to grow crops on. The soil makeup has allowed them to get rid of the excess water that has harmed the crops of other local farms from around the area and has kept their crops growing ripe and strong.
All three of these local farms are among those that have recently shifted focus to roadside markets and other farmers markets around Northern Kentucky. The Boone County Farmers Market located outside the Boone County Extension Office, and the Friendly Market of Northern Kentucky.
Jim Scott of Scott Farm hopes that the market sales will remain consistent, Sales have been aided because some people with backyard gardens have completely abandoned their crops this summer and will depend on the local farmers markets to get their usual supply each week.
Many Northern Kentucky farmers operate roadside stands on or near their property and at various farmers’ markets throughout the region. For more information on the Boone County Farmer’s Market, which is located just east of the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service office, and is open every day, click here .
Jacob Lange is a senior journalism major at the University of Kentucky