Farmers hoping for dry fall
MICHELLE ALLENBERG
WELLAND TRIBUNE
Wetter isn’t always better when it comes to farming.
Niagara has seen a great deal of rain this summer, which has had an impact on local farmers. Crops, including fruit, grains and vegetables, have had to be sprayed with pesticides more often this season.
For Paul Damude, owner of The Apple Spot in Pelham, the weather hasn’t had a huge impact on his farm. Damude has 35 acres of land and farms fruit, pumpkins and corn. Damude said the soil on his land is pretty sandy and dry, so the water absorbs well.
He said the rain did increase fungus and mildew, so he has had to spray the crop more often.
Henry Swierenga, member service representative with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, said many farmers have had to increase spraying due to the threat of fungus. The wet weather provides a perfect environment for fungus, molds and other pests to thrive.
Matthias Oppenlaender, board chair of Grape Growers Ontario, said the weather has increased many farmers workload by about 30 per cent. Grape growers in Niagara not only had to spray more, but had to increase their focus on canopy management. Oppenlaender said farmers have had to pull off leaves along the canopies to allow the sun and air to dry the grapes.
“Most growers have stayed on top of it ... it’s a lot better than I expect it when I go around to check vine- yards ... we had to be very vigilant to protect our crops,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday.
Grapes are just starting to ripen, so Oppenlaender said if Niagara has warmer, drier days in the next few weeks that would be ideal. He said the next two months will be the most important for developing the flavour of the fruit.
“It will be a challenge if it stays wet, but we will deal with it if it comes. We will be reducing crop to get the quality wineries need and set for us. But we are hoping and praying for a dry fall for sure,” he said.
As for table grapes, Oppenlaender said they are looking “great.” Some have already been harvested, and more will be harvested next week.
When it comes to soy beans and corn, Swierenga said there needs to be a dry fall. He said farmers have expressed they are pleased with the look of their crops, but need the drier weather to harvest. If the soil stays wet the method of harvesting the crop will damage the soil.
“You get soil compaction and it ruts up the fields,” he said.
Many farmers harvest hay for livestock, but Swierenga said a great deal of farmers are saying they can’t dry the hay. He said it has been an especially difficult year for this.
On a positive note, Oppenlaender said after the dry season last year the rain has replenished the water tables. Swierenga agreed saying the water tables were low at the beginning of the season.
When it comes to farming Swierenga and Damude acknowledged farming can be a gamble. Each year poses different challenges which can’t be prepared for, but Swierenga said farmers can always pay for crop insurance in case of crop loss.