Westchester's oldest working farm is taking extra measures to protect its crops and workers amid the hot weather.
Open since 1828, Stuart's Farm in Granite Springs has lived through its fair share of heat.
Owner Bob Stuart says the farm has had to adapt with recent high temperatures.
"You can't spray anything over 80, otherwise you can get some leaves burning on either the vegetables or the trees,” he says. "Yesterday, I had to start at 3 a.m. because it's cooler then and no wind. Then I started spraying at 10:30 p.m. because I had to stop during the day."
The workers who assist Stuart with his farm did not work on the fields during the hot weather Tuesday.
"Work will be there when the heat wave is over, I get it done here. I don't want anybody getting heatstroke or anything, it's not worth it,” he says.
Stuart says the drought conditions are impacting the vegetables and fruits he grows.
"When you get dry weather, you get the best tasting apples,” he says. “The other tomatoes and earlier crops are sizing up on me now."
However, the heat can also have negative effects.
"The trees will go under stress and overproduce the apples but won't produce buds for next year,” Stuart says.
He says this issue has happened to his peaches this year.
"They're light this year because last year they were so heavy,” he says.
The kind of rain that pours also impacts the farm.
"I wouldn't want the rain lower Westchester got the other day, because that's more devastating than helpful,” Stuart says.
He says if the lack of rain continues it can and will affect next year's crops.
Stuart's Farm will open for the season on July 29.