SYRACUSE (AP) -- A dry summer is taking a toll on various crops across New York state, and the State Fair is feeling it, too.
Officials tell the Syracuse Post-Standard that entries are down for a few of the fair's agricultural competitions, including those for vegetables and some livestock exhibits.
State Fair officials say drought conditions have caused corn prices to rise, forcing some farmers to sell more livestock this summer to cover their feed costs.
"We are concerned with some of the farmers and some of the beef cattle," State Fair Director Dan O'Hara said. "We see that the numbers are down a little bit and I think a lot of that has to do with the drought, a lot of that has to do with the grain and the feed, it's not growing as it has in years past, but overall we're in pretty good shape here."
The dry conditions are also having an impact on the fairgrounds in the suburb of Geddes. Flowers have died, the grass is barely hanging on and workers are watering down roadways to keep down the dust.
The fair opens Thursday morning for its 12-day run.
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