Niagara growers expecting a sweet harvest
Recent rains alleviate some of the crop concerns
An extremely dry and hot summer was a cause for concern a few weeks ago in the local farming industry but heavy rain that fell earlier this week has growers breathing a sigh of relief.
Close to a month ago, Jerry Winnicki, agronomy manager of Clark Agri Service, a company of experts that helps farmers gain quality and quantity in their annual summer yield, said optimism was running low on the season’s harvest of grain crops as a result of a lack of rain.
Since then, the clouds have opened up enough to alleviate some of the concern being felt and things are back on track.
“In farmers’ terms, rain at a critical time is a million-dollar rain, and we’ve had several over the last few weeks that have rejuvenated all the crops,” said Winnicki.
Grain crop growers who deal in produce like corn and soybean were becoming anxious, especially those who can’t afford irriga-
tion systems at their farms.
“We’re very positive now, opposed to where we were three weeks ago,” he added.
But extreme heat also has its benefits in the tender fruit industry, as it raises sugar levels and creates a more vibrant flavour in peaches, nectarines, cherries, and plums.
“The flavour is very sweet this year,” said Dan Devries from Devries Fruit Farms in Fenwick.
Family-owned since 1984, his operation is able to irrigate their orchards with water and keep everything healthy, but it’s much easier and less expensive when Mother Nature takes care of it on her own.
“The rain definitely does a better job than irrigation,” he said.
“But you do what you’ve got to do to get the crop to market,” added Devries.
Having this option meant their harvest was never in jeopardy, but the precipitation that fell on Wednesday was a massive bonus.
“We’re really thankful we got that rain – that’s for sure,” he said.
The dehydrated weather’s impact is twofold, too. It means growers have to take extra measures to stay on course, but also results in better-tasting fruit.
“You lose on one end but then gain on the other. It all balances out,” he said.
Sarah Marshall, manager of the Ontario Tender Fruit Growers association, also agreed that this year’s harvest is no longer a concern and that an average harvest is expected.
Having very little rain was definitely a challenge, but several downpours in the spring proved to be beneficial.
“We were going into the season with a good quantity of moisture in the soils,” she said.
Debbie Zimmerman, chief executive officer of the Grape Growers of Ontario, said the crispy summer coupled with an extremely cold winter will result in a small haul come harvest time.
“We do know the crop is much less than it was last year,” she said Friday, pointing out that Niagara grapes were late getting to berry form and that irrigation doesn’t make a difference during hot weather until this occurs.
She attributes this to deep freezes that occurred before spring arrived.
“We’re very subject to cold temperatures, which we often get,” she said.
“Weather is a big determinant on whether your crop is going to be successful or not,” added Zimmerman.
High temperatures also create more sweetness in grapes, but regardless of how much rain falls before it’s time to pick from the vines, a “much smaller” yield is expected.
“There’s nothing really that will change between now and then,” she said.
Grapevines are perennial crop that stays in the vineyard all year. She said the rain is still helpful, but it needs to “come at the right time.”