LED Lights Cause Farm Troubles
Street Light Soybeans
The soybean plants at Yarnell Farm on Africa Road and in the fields along Cooper Road are responding significantly to the LED streetlights. The photograph above shows a contrast between the soybeans directly under a parking lot LED light at Yarnell Farm and those spreading across the field toward DHL. The plants under the light are visibly taller, still growing, and more robust, indicating an unusual growth pattern.
Soybean plants in suburban areas display unusual growth patterns when exposed to LED streetlights. They thrive more under the artificial glow compared to those in the darker parts of fields. This is linked to soybeans’ sensitivity to day length, which determines when they stop growing and start flowering. LED lights trick the plants into believing the days are longer, pushing them to continue their vegetative growth phase. The lights emit blue and red wavelengths that match what plants need for photosynthesis, so soybeans use this extra light to boost their growth.
The growth at Yarnell Farm is more pronounced near the LED streetlights that remain on all night. Several lights along Africa Road switch on and off during the night, reducing the plant's growth from the artificial source.
In previous years, farmers who lease the land have been forced to spray a small section of green soybeans to stop their growth before harvesting. If the fields are harvested when a small portion of the soybeans are still green and have not thoroughly dried, the farmer receives less per bushel at the grain elevator, as the price is determined by quantity and quality. Beans with higher moisture content, such as green beans, require more natural gas to complete drying before being processed, so the farmer receives less for these beans.
Drone images from the fields along Cooper Road capture a similar trend, with soybean plants near the streetlights thriving more than those in the darker parts of the fields.
Corn, sometimes grown in Westerville’s farm fields, remains largely unaffected by these streetlights. It doesn’t rely on day length for growth regulation in the same way that soybeans do. Corn development is more dependent on daily sunlight and temperature changes, making it less responsive to the presence of LED lights at night. Corn also uses a more efficient photosynthesis process, allowing it to reach its growth potential without needing additional nighttime light. This makes corn less prone to environmental changes compared to soybeans when exposed to light pollution.
Friday Storm Damage
A Friday storm brought damaging heavy winds and rain in Westerville, where city electric crews repaired a broken three-phase power line on Cherrington Road where the street was closed.
City Hall also suffered minor damage when a large oak on the north side snapped, dropping limbs onto a portion of the building's gutter. There was no significant damage to the building, which will be renovated next year.
Pumpkin Patch Returns
Troop 560 BSA loaded more than 2,500 giant pumpkins and an uncounted number of hand-sized siblings onto the front lawn of the Masonic Hall on Saturday for its annual Pumpkin Patch fundraiser. Pumpkins will be available on Halloween, but the best of the litter be sold within the first two weeks. Get there early.
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