The latest hurdle comes from a slow-moving threat — a mass influx of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico that is creeping up the drought-stricken Mississippi River.
The issue is forcing farmers to brainstorm other ways to irrigate their crops with fresh water — including storing the little rain water they’ve gotten this summer, hauling in fresh water and establishing makeshift salination treatment facilities.
Typically, the mighty flow of the Mississippi is enough to keep mass amounts of salt water from reaching too far inland.
While officials believe adult citrus trees will be okay, seedlings are much more sensitive to salt water.
Over the years some citrus farmers have focused on seedlings — shipping them to garden centers across the country and as far north as Canada.
Persons:
They’re, ”, Joey Breaux, John Bel Edwards, Joe Biden, ” Biden, Belle Chasse, satsumas, Anna Timmerman, Louisiana State University AgCenter, Timmerman, “, ” Timmerman, Kim Dillon, Ben, Ben Becnel
Organizations:
Army Corps of Engineers, Orange Festival, Louisiana State University, Inc
Locations:
BATON ROUGE, La, Louisiana, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi, Belle, Plaquemines Parish, Florida, California, Belle Chasse, Canada