Lack of rain in south Iceland in the last few weeks has started to cause problems. Some farmers have not begun haymaking and the water and heating utility in Árborg municipality has reduced the water pressure to save water.
Many vegetable farmers are satisfied with the warm and dry weather; they say their tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers are growing better than ever as long as they can water their vegetables as much as they need, Morgunbladid reports.
“All the animals are drinking water from the water utility because there is no water for the animals in the fields, everything had dried up,” said Ólafur Einarsson, a farmer in Hurdarbak who is following the development of the water sources in his region Villingaholtshreppur.
Director of the Soil Conservation Service of Iceland Sveinn Runólfsson said he hopes for rain before the next storm, otherwise there is a danger of soil erosion.
According to meteorologist Trausti Jónsson, such long-lasting drought only occurs every ten or 12 years in Iceland. He does not predict any changes in the immediate future. “We forecast little rain, especially here in southwest Iceland.”
