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Editor’s note: This story was updated at 12 p.m. ET on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021 to remove specific references to 2019 rainfall records in Portland, Ore.

Heavy rainfall during harvest season can leave outdoor cannabis and hemp cultivators across the country scrambling to save their crops.

When rain is in the forecast, what’s an outdoor cannabis grower to do?

Heavy rain can cause physical damage to crops, but the real threat is mold, according to Ryan Douglas, owner of cannabis consulting firm Ryan Douglas Cultivation, LLC. After heavy rainfall, cool night temperatures can create the perfect conditions for spore germination and propagation, he says, and almost nothing can be done to cure an infection once it sets in. Therefore, preventative measures are key.

“Powdery mildew may take…