I'm not abig farmer, but do have a good sized garden. Here, even though our spring was very unuslaly mild back in April, we did have our share of heavy rains. Things like cucumbers, peas, and corn were planted and most were either lost to the extreme water or were very slow in germinating. Usually, I am overloaded with cucumbers right now, but they were very slow in coming, and I am only getting small harvests about every four days. These harvest are just maybe 10- 20 pickling types from about 40 plants. Same with peas, which are now past due to the heat. String beans were also very slow, and are just now producing. The only vegetable that has been growing profusly are my small mildly hot peppers. I started these plants indoors and set them out the begiining of June between rain. My soil was so muddy, that I couldn't put down the fabric mulch I use. My shin high boots sunk into the mud so deep that I had to use a big shovel and some boards to get to it and pull it out. In April, I was able to do my tilling, and just after it was done was when the rains came. I believe that many have suffered loses due to rotting seeds, as well as having very poor growth due to temperatures and all the rains. Even for that, it was so wet, I had a few 'streams' form in my garden, and these washed away many seeds, fertlizers, and anything that was planted last fall as a harvest now. Garlic was the worst, and out of about 40 plants, I have just one single left, which is now looking very sickly. I think that not only will prices rise due to the weather, but also due to fuel prices. Someone has to pay the increases...

I agree with a lot of what Ken says for the Northeast. When we've had rain, it has been torrential down pours usually accompanied by high winds. So instead of getting an inch or two of rain a week, we get an inch or two of rain in a day. This is how the whole season has been. Farmers around here that had their crops in the ground in April (which is early for here), are doing well. Those that planted later are suffering because of extremes in heat and rain this year. A big farm (Hinman's) a county east of me in NY, shut down due to crop failure / damage after we received 4 1/2 inches of rain in one day. They are one of the biggest local producers in the central NY area. In my area, fruit prices especially seem higher than in past years.

In Oregon I heard a news report that about 50% of the raspberry crop was lost due to extreme (for us) heat. My biggest problem in my own garden this year was lack of pollination due to a huge wasp nest. We believe they managed to chase off honey bees, yellow jackets, mason bees, and bumble bees. Now that we've eliminated the wasps, things are getting better. We're seeing the types of bees that we normally see. Smaller quantities, but growing.

I am still seeing some squash (summer & winter) and cukes that shrivel and die while still very small. I am hoping that the bees will get busy!!!

We have had odd weather this year as well. Seems to be "normal" (75-80 high, 50 low) for a week or two, then HOT..temps over 90-95 for a week, then cooler again. We normally don't see the hotter temps at all until mid to late Aug. and then only for a few days. We've already had 3 separate instances like this.
Hmmmm...????
The challenges of gardening!
Deanna

UPDATE: this evening (7/31) on NBC news, the last five minutes was a story on the increasing price of food due to the drought, heavy rains, and the high cost of fuel.

I hate to say it-I was right.

Now, I wonder what strategies we will all take to prepare for the higher costs of food (yes, even meat from cattle as well as milk products) and other food related disruptions.

Best wishes.
Lawrence

My vegetable garden is small, approximately 20 feet by 20 feet. I have had the same problems as others in Southern Illinois. Too much Rain that prohibited tilling and application of mulch. Then after I was finally able to till, and planted seeds it rained for days and the seeds rotted. A 2nd replant produced better results. I have picked lots more Zukes, and crookneck squash, cucumbers, beans, green onions, bell peppers than I can possibly use. I have a 4 foot metal fence around it, so on the outside of the garden I ran my small tiller around the fence and planted cucumbers and peas I have a fence full of cucumbers in copious amounts...too many. Peas grew but produced nothing. Too Hot for them.

I have tomato 15 tomato plants in a separate area. I cage them in 6 foot tall cages. They are over 8 feet tall, growing out of the tops of the cages and producing lots of huge tomatoes.

The temperature was 101 degrees at about 3 pm today. We are expecting another week of the same. Who knows what the garden will do. I've already canned, and preserved more than I need so all is well.

Prices of garden vegetables in the stores here are VERY high. Tomatoes are $1.49 a pound on sale, for example.