GLASTONBURY-- The recent dry spells have had quite an impact on farmers in Connecticut, including those producing fruits and vegetables.
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, all parts of the state except the northwest hills are in a moderate drought, according to the Palmer Drought Severity Index, which analyzes precipitation, temperature and soil moisture.
The September and the October harvest season is typically the profitable for farmers like Tony Botticello, owner of Botticello Farms in Glastonbury. The 400-acre farm produces many types of vegetables, including his cash crops, green and red peppers.
But many of the farm's vegetables are wilting because of the recent bouts of heat and dry air.
"Now is where we make our money, and we're going to lose it all. It's hard to come back from something like that," said Botticello.
Other farms in Connecticut have also reported dips in crop production due to the lack of rain, according to Henry Talmage, director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau Association.
Talmage says farmers typically are accustomed to more rainfall later in the summer, but says this year has been abnormal. However, the drought has only touched certain farms in the state.
"Drought is a localized phenomenon. Its impact varies from farm-to-farm," Talmage said.
Talmage says farms that irrigate crops can typically avoid the impact of drought conditions, but some farmers find that method expensive and labor intensive.
At the Windsor laboratory of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, soy crops are one of the research plots that have shown the effects from the drought. Scientists there monitor the plants' conditions but don't irrigate them.
The farm grows a number of diverse crops, such as tobacco, barley and hop vines, as well as wine grapes. Scientists say the wine vineyards and tobacco crops actually thrive under drought-like conditions.
"The plants are pretty tough and continue to do well under dry conditions," said James La Mondia,chief scientists for the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station.
In the meantime, farmers are hoping it rains soon. Fox CT's meteorologists say there will be scattered showers and thunderstorms Wednesday night into Thursday, some of which may produce heavy rain.
"We need some rain really bad, if we don't [get it], we're in a lot of trouble," Botticello said.