A press release from Charles Schumer's office...
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the NY Thruway Authority has heeded his call and will open up the Erie Canal approximately one week ahead of schedule, ensuring that berry farmers have sufficient water to irrigate their crops and prevent further cold weather-induced damage. Berry farmers throughout Western New York have struggled in recent weeks after warm weather accelerated their crops blooming time, only to have exposed berries frozen and damaged when temperatures dropped back to more seasonal levels. Last week, Schumer urged the Thruway Authority to open the canal ahead of schedule, providing much needed water to irrigate berry crops. Today, Schumer announced that Thruway officials have confirmed that the canal will open on April 15th or 16th, one week ahead of schedule.
“The early sunshine and warm weather might have made it nice to be outdoors, but it spelled trouble for farmers across the state,” said Schumer. “In order to protect our berry farmers that have already suffered this season, they need access to Erie Canal water as quickly as possible to help irrigate their crops and fend off even greater damage. I’m pleased that the Thruway authority is going to make that possible, and open the canal ahead of schedule so that we can get our farmers the tools they need to produce great crops.”
Senator Schumer was contacted by Hurd Orchards in Orleans County, which has relied on using water from the Erie Canal to spray down crops to protect them from frost damage. Orleans County area farmers that employ this frost prevention technique cannot operate any frost protection without the Canal being filled with water. With the unusual spring weather having an impact on many larger crops such as apples, small fruit crops such as raspberries, blackberries and strawberries need to be saved in order to maintain the viability of area farms this season. Opening the Canal early will be a great relief to Orleans County farmers who have come to depend on the water this season more than ever.
Editor's Note: The Canal is open for boating on May 1st. By "open" in his press release Schumer refers to the filling of the Canal and the available extraction of water by overflows and irrigation pipes.
U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that the NY Thruway Authority has heeded his call and will open up the Erie Canal approximately one week ahead of schedule, ensuring that berry farmers have sufficient water to irrigate their crops and prevent further cold weather-induced damage. Berry farmers throughout Western New York have struggled in recent weeks after warm weather accelerated their crops blooming time, only to have exposed berries frozen and damaged when temperatures dropped back to more seasonal levels. Last week, Schumer urged the Thruway Authority to open the canal ahead of schedule, providing much needed water to irrigate berry crops. Today, Schumer announced that Thruway officials have confirmed that the canal will open on April 15th or 16th, one week ahead of schedule.
“The early sunshine and warm weather might have made it nice to be outdoors, but it spelled trouble for farmers across the state,” said Schumer. “In order to protect our berry farmers that have already suffered this season, they need access to Erie Canal water as quickly as possible to help irrigate their crops and fend off even greater damage. I’m pleased that the Thruway authority is going to make that possible, and open the canal ahead of schedule so that we can get our farmers the tools they need to produce great crops.”
Senator Schumer was contacted by Hurd Orchards in Orleans County, which has relied on using water from the Erie Canal to spray down crops to protect them from frost damage. Orleans County area farmers that employ this frost prevention technique cannot operate any frost protection without the Canal being filled with water. With the unusual spring weather having an impact on many larger crops such as apples, small fruit crops such as raspberries, blackberries and strawberries need to be saved in order to maintain the viability of area farms this season. Opening the Canal early will be a great relief to Orleans County farmers who have come to depend on the water this season more than ever.
Editor's Note: The Canal is open for boating on May 1st. By "open" in his press release Schumer refers to the filling of the Canal and the available extraction of water by overflows and irrigation pipes.
