• Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Your neighborhood. Your News.

newsMilwaukee NNSMilwaukee NNSSearch
Subscribe to NNS today!
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • Arts and Recreation
    • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Public Safety
    • NNS Spotlight
    • Special Report
  • Posts From Community
    • Submit a Story
  • Community Voices
  • How To
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Local Video
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect
    • NNS WGLB 1560 Radio
  • Subscribe
  • Donate
  • About
    • Staff
    • Partners
    • News 414
    • The neighborhoods we cover
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service

Diederich College of Communication, Marquette University

You are here: Home / Home / Carousel / Fondy Farm takes emergency measures to fight drought

Fondy Farm takes emergency measures to fight drought

July 18, 2012 by Alec Brooks Leave a Comment

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Fondy Executive Director Young Kim and farm manager Stephen Petro survey the drought-damaged fields at the Port Washington farm. (Photo by Alec Brooks)

A Dark Red Norland potato stunted by the lack of rain is one-third the normal size. (Photo by Alec Brooks)

Every time Young Kim has seen rain coming toward Milwaukee County for the past few months, he’s gotten excited. But the storms seem to avoid Fondy Food Center’s farm each time.

“It’s frustrating,” he said. “We had a nice March and April, then nothing.”

Months of low rainfall have prevented many plants from even sprouting on Fondy Food Center‘s 80-acre Port Washington farm, and the ones that have are small or wilted.

To alleviate the dry conditions, the center has put in a new 415-foot well and bought an irrigation system. The deep well won’t dry up in drought conditions.

Originally, farm managers planned to install drip line irrigation this summer, but they chose a simpler system as an emergency measure. A tank carried on the back of a trailer pulled by a tractor has multiple sprayers, allowing farmers to water their crops.

The system cost $18,000, according to Kim, including the cost of the pump, which will provide water for the drip lines when they are installed at a later date.

Farm managers initially settled on drip lines because they are particularly water-efficient. They pump water through flat tubes that run along the rows of plants and spray water through holes spaced along their length. The design reduces water lost to evaporation and weeds.

Fondy’s farmers aren’t the only ones left staring at an empty rain gauge. National Weather Service records show that the Milwaukee area has received only 2 inches of rain since the beginning of June — 30 percent of normal levels. A NWS statement on the drought said problems for farmers are exacerbated by the higher-than-usual evaporation brought on by high temperatures.

Additionally, crops that have grown have been struck by waves of insects, Fondy Farm Project Manager Stephen Petro said. The high temperatures of the past weeks made it easier for insects to attack fields.

Yet, crops planted earlier in the year are growing and producing food for the market Fondy Food Center runs at 2200 W. Fond Du Lac Ave., though the scarcity has raised prices.

Young Kim stands atop a trailer used to transport water, with the new pump in the foreground. (Photo by Alec Brooks)

“We will have corn, but it will be expensive,” Kim said. “The market is just not as bountiful as we would like it to be.”

Petro said the drought was likely to affect other crops including grains, which will drive up the prices of other foods.

“There’s definitely going to be a ripple effect we’re not seeing now,” Petro said.

In the meantime, Kim and Petro are confident the irrigation system will make a noticeable difference.

Gesturing at the dry fields, Kim said, “This will be a lot greener in a week.”

Share this...
Share on Facebook
Facebook
Pin on Pinterest
Pinterest
Tweet about this on Twitter
Twitter
Share on LinkedIn
Linkedin

Filed Under: Carousel, Health and Wellness, Home, Lindsay Heights, Neighborhoods, News, North

Avatar

About Alec Brooks

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Advertisement
Advertisement

How To …

How to avoid stimulus check scams

A new round of stimulus checks will likely also bring out a new round of scams. Here’s what to watch out for.

More "How To" articles

Advertisement

Recommended Reading

A Vaccine Reality Check

The Atlantic

UWM study on the state of Black Milwaukee describes the city as ‘the epitome of a 21st century racial regime’

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Videos Show How Federal Officers Escalated Violence in Portland

The New York Times

These mayors want to fight Covid-19 and the recession with one big idea: A guaranteed income

Vox

The World John Lewis Helped Create

The Atlantic

News

  • Arts and Recreation
  • Economic Development
  • Education
  • Health and Wellness
  • Housing
  • Public Safety
  • NNS Spotlight
  • Special Reports
  • Multimedia
    • NNS Videos
    • Photos
    • NNS on Lake Effect Radio

Engage with us

  • Posts from Community
  • Community Voices
  • Submit a Story

About NNS

  • Staff
  • Partners
  • News414
  • The neighborhoods we cover
  • Internship opportunities
  • Careers
  • Terms of use
  • Advertise

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS feed

Communities

Contact

mailing address
Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Diederich College of Communication
Marquette University
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Johnston Hall 430
Milwaukee, WI 53233

email
info@milwaukeenns.org

phone & fax
PHONE: 414.604.6397 FAX: 414.288.6494

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service is a project of Diederich College of Communication and Marquette University.
© 2020 Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Terms of use.
1131 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee WI 53233 • info@milwaukeenns.org

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in