On February 2, 2021, Punxsutawney Phil predicted that there was going to be six more weeks of winter. My calendar says there are forty-two days in six weeks. What kind of calendar is he using? My aunt was singing Christmas carols on Mother’s Day, which is May 9. The hanging basket that my brother got our mom was covered in snow when we got home.

Local fruit farmers have been effected by the warm weather in April, which caused the trees to bud due to the temperatures ranging from 75 to 80 degrees. Then the frost and snow came and killed the buds, and now 50 to 75 percent of the apple trees will not yield fruit this year. The apple trees are not the only crop to perish; it also pertains to all other types of fruit-bearing trees that were in blossom. Due to the lack of harvest, there is going to be a shortage of fruit, and consumers will have to pay more for their produce. Farmers who depend on this for their sole source of income will have a rough year financially trying to make ends meet.

Phil also has caused dairy farmers grief. Frosts that came after the warm weather burned and stunned the growth of hay in some fields. In order for regrowth to take place, the hay must be mowed, and then chopped or baled. Additionally, any type of corn that may have been planted earlier this Spring will have to be replanted unless they had the rows of corn covered with plastic. Around this time of year most of the corn would be planted without having to worry about it. Due to unusual circumstances, the fall harvest will occur later in the year.