Hot temperatures affect crops, animals and food prices

The hot temperatures and lack of rain predicted for the next several days may damage this year’s crop yield.

Local farmer John Sam Williamson says his soybeans are already seeing the effects of the heat.

He claims most crops need an inch of rain per week to grow properly. But in high temperatures like these, the crops need even more rain, especially in those fields that are only watered by rain.

He says many farmers only rely on mother nature to water their crops because irrigation systems can cost around a quarter of a million dollars to put in.

This heat won’t only affect the crops. Farmer Williamson says that cows will also produce less milk, and cattle will gain less weight.

He says that with the shortage of crops, milk and meat, prices in grocery stores may rise.