New Mexico’s Green Chile Crop Endangered by Weather

Wet weather in recent weeks has left some of New Mexico’s green chile crop in danger.

The Las Cruces Sun-News reported that a hail storm last week was the latest in a spate of precipitation to plague chile fields in Dona Ana County.

Farmers say the rain is delaying some harvests as well as increasing the chances of a chile-plant disease.

Some fields are already dying from phytophera, a disease caused by moisture. Other crops are suffering from chile “pod rot.”

A U.S. Department of Agriculture report issued last week says about 75 percent of the state’s green chile crop has been harvested.