JEFFERSON COUNTY, N.Y. -- This past summer left farmers scrambling.
The dry weather produced drought conditions not seen in a long time. Many farmers lost crops.
But for those who planted what's known as cover crops, perhaps these large tilling radishes were able to make the best of it.
"Those radishes penetrated the soil, broke it up and the corn roots were able to dig deep and find water," Jefferson County farmer Brian Robbins said.
That's not the only benefit. Farmers say they can help prevent flooding and soil erosion.
"It gives a cover on the ground through the winter, so when we have melts, the snow and water don't melt all the soil away from the field. It stays on the field," said USDA Resource Conservationist David Komorowski.
Radishes can also provide nutrients and help keep the ecosystem thriving.
"What we're trying to do is create healthier soils out here. By putting cover crops and tillage radishes into the ground, we're making the soil healthier, which will make a better crop, which will require less inputs of fertilizer and nutrients," Komorowski added.
But all of these benefits do come with a cost. These radishes stink. In fact, the odor causes some to complain about the smell and also wonder if there's an emergency.
"What they do is release a gas called methyl mercaptain," Komorowski said. "The reason for that is once the weather starts to warm up a bit, the tillage radish starts to break down, and that gas gets released."
The USDA and farms are now teaming up to not only educate farmers about the positives of these radishes, but also how they can be better neighbors, explain what and why and hopefully eliminate some of the concerns.
Anyone with questions about the tillage radishes can reach out to the regional USDA office at 315-782-7289, extension 5869.