LI farmers facing new challenges due to climate change

Long Island farmers say their businesses are facing new challenges, and it's all because of climate change. Longtime vegetable farmer Lyle Wells says there's no question temperatures have clicked up

News 12 Staff

Dec 31, 2016, 1:34 AM

Updated 2,817 days ago

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Long Island farmers say their businesses are facing new challenges, and it's all because of climate change.
Longtime vegetable farmer Lyle Wells says there's no question temperatures have clicked up a few degrees in recent years, which has allowed farmers to plant a little earlier and harvest a little later. 
However, he says other weather changes haven't been so welcome. "The downside is the storms that do come through are much more severe...a severe storm can wipe you out in a couple of days," says Wells.
Kareen Massoud, of Paumanok Vineyards, agrees. "What's changed is the degree to which Mother Nature has handed you either a terrible hand of cards or a fantastic hand of cards."
Aside from the weather, farming on Long Island is a very risky industry considering the high cost of land, taxes, fuel and labor.