8-2-11: To Be a Thirsty Tomato

It’s August 2^nd—no surprise that it’s pretty warm outside.  But this is intense — yesterday, the National Weather Service announced that July was the hottest month ever in Baltimore.  Meanwhile, on the Eastern Shore, the entire peninsula is dealing not just with extreme heat – but also severe lack of water.  According to the USDA Drought Monitor, all of the Shore is experiencing abnormally dry conditions, while parts of the Lower Shore are dealing with extreme drought.

We wanted to know how that’s affecting the region’s farmers, whose livelihoods depend on the weather—to a certain extent, at least.  Sheilah speaks with Alison Howard, who owns Homestead Farms, in Millington, Maryland, with her husband Luke.  They grow vegetables, including broccoli, corn, squash – and soon, she’s hoping, tomatoes.

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