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South Carolina farm uses ice to protect blueberry crops from rare snowstorm

Biting wind and freezing temperatures recently challenged Coosaw Farms, a notable blueberry producer in South Carolina, as an uncommon snowstorm approached. Located on St. Helena Island, the farm faced the potential loss of over 100,000 blueberries, crucially timed 2 1/2 months before harvest. The farm's response was not to cover the plants but to initiate a counterintuitive frost protection method by creating ice. Through the night, workers sprayed water over 32 hectares, effectively encasing the plants in ice to insulate them against the freezing temperatures.

Cal Hucks, affiliated with Coosaw Farms, explained the rationale behind this method, highlighting the insulation and slight warmth provided by the ice formation process. Despite the adverse weather, this frost protection effort was deemed successful, although some losses are anticipated. Coosaw Farms, recognized as the largest blueberry producer in the state, with fields also in Fairfax, undertakes various strategies to mitigate environmental threats to their crops.

The snowstorm, marking the first in seven years for the area, posed a unique challenge, particularly affecting crops like strawberries and blueberries already in the ground. The farm's proactive frost protection involved extensive preparation, including the deployment of large sprinkler systems to continuously spray water on the blueberries, transforming them into protective ice amidst the storm.

This emergency operation spanned from late Tuesday afternoon until midday Wednesday, with farm workers diligently monitoring the system to prevent any failures that could jeopardize the crop. The technique, grounded in the physical principle that a phase change from liquid to solid releases energy, thereby generating heat, is a testament to the innovative approaches employed in modern agriculture to safeguard against climatic adversities.

While frost protection is a widely recognized practice among blueberry growers, its application in this scenario underscores the challenges and uncertainties faced by farmers in ensuring crop survival against extreme weather conditions. The outcome for Coosaw Farms' blueberries, as well as other affected crops like strawberries, remains to be seen as the season progresses.

Source: The Island Packet

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