Local Agricultural Extension Agent Neal Denton raises concerns about recent weather
“Local Agricultural Extension Agent Neal Denton raised some concerns about the recent warm weather and soaking rains that East Tennessee has been experiencing lately,” reported Debra Hopkinson, former owner/partner of the DanDe Greenhouse here in Clinton, Tennessee, “most notably the lack of our region to experience any substantial and extended temperatures below freezing. Early blooming trees, shrubs, and perennial flowers as well as some grasses and weeds are already beginning to sprout from the unusually warm temperatures we have been experiencing. Should this trend continue, Denton warned, and a hard freeze hit our area, the Spring blooms would most probably be lost. He voiced similar concerns for farmers and their crops, like strawberries, blueberries, and peaches. And if the roller-coaster weather is not enough to trouble farmers’ and gardeners’ thoughts this winter, there is also the added threat that such warm, unseasonable weather brings of insects and other pests becoming active earlier in the season. And what gardener or farmer is there in our area who needs more insects and other pests in their garden or crops?”
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