Gardeners/farmers: How are your plants and crops holding up? - Public Insight Network | St. Louis Beacon and the Nine Network of Public Media

Gardeners/farmers: How are your plants and crops holding up?

This summer seems to be aiming to go down in the record books as one of the hottest and driest that we've seen in these parts for quite some time. Even with the recent rain that's come to some areas, the extended periods of record-breaking heat and dryness have gardeners and farmers of all sorts are keeping a weather eye on their crops and hoping for a change in conditions.

We at the Beacon and Nine Network want to share what these conditions mean to agriculturists of any sort. Whether you're a small farmer, run a garden shop or simply like to have a healthy lawn, please help us learn and share tips for survival by responding to the questions below.

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E-mail *

First Name *

Last Name *

Street Address

City

State or Province *

Postal Code *

Phone *

Tell us about your agricultural activities. (Check all the apply)

I grow fruits and/or vegetables in my backyard garden.
I grow flowers in my yard.
I operate a lawn/garden business.
I operate a small farm.
I operate a large farm.
Other

If you picked "other," please explain.

Tell us more about what you do. (i.e. what do you grow, how big is your garden or farm, how long have you been doing this?)

How have this season's weather conditions affected you? What kinds of new challenges are you facing? (pests, bugs, diseases, costs) What are you doing to compensate for these challenges?

What is your greatest concern related to this season's weather?

On what items or services do you spend extra money during a heat wave?

What restrictions, if any, has your municipality put in place regarding the use of water or anything that affects what you do? What are you doing to compensate?

Is there anything else you'd like to add, or anything you'd like to know about this subject?
What people or businesses do you know of that are vulnerable during a heat wave?
If you know of someone else we should contact about this subject, please give us their name and a way to contact them (email address/telephone number.

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In what year were you born?

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Feel free to share this with anyone you know who has insight to share about this hot, dry summer. Here's a link to make it easy: http://bit.ly/Hottimes2012

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