ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (WKBW) — While we all hunt for ways to beat the heat, some farmers are creating backup plans to do the same, to protect their bottom line.
Henry W. Agle & Sons has been around since the 1830s, seeing its fair share of hot summers.
"Just seems to be hotter," Karyn Agle Sullivan said. "There are no days off at this time of year, that's for sure."
We've only had 7 days in July of measurable rainfall. The 18-mile creek hasn't dried up yet, which Agle Sullivan says means it's not the hottest, but still tough to deal with.
"Sweet corn, over here, and then peppers, over here," she said. "They both take a lot of water, and it's been a challenge to make sure everything's getting enough water."
It's already busy, with the Eden Corn Festival this weekend. Agle Sullivan says it's like a switch flipped when the seasons changed.
"After a cold, wet spring, everything was planted two weeks later than usual," she said. "Then it got hot, and it evened everything up, so things are coming all at once instead of spacing out."
WATCH: 'Been a challenge': How farmers are protecting crops during hot summer in Western New York
It's limiting production at the Providence Farm Collective.
"The yields have been very, very low compared to last year," markets manager Hamadi Ali said. "This week in the market, we have way less produce to get out."
They're working with local agencies to get a pond on-site to help with irrigation.
"We'd have it closer to the actual farm, using the watershed and rain from the road, so it'd make us more self-sufficient," Jeff Herrmann, who works on facilities and equipment for PFC, said.
Their bottom line is okay for now, but both rely on public support.
"If things get worse, we can definitely use water for Erie County, but that will bump up our usage, and we definitely have to pay for it," said Ali.
Agle's is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and PFC is open Mondays 3 to 7 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
