An early spring? Looks like it

If we need any further evidence than the absence of snow cuttings along our roadways to acknowledge what a difference a year makes, all we have to do is look at our rivers or our fields. Many of the waterways are either wide open or dotted with patches of rotting ice, and dust was blowing across bare fields this week. This time last year avid anglers were eying the odd bare patch in their yards by night hoping to catch dew worms for opening day. There are no worries this year as many anglers are already well stocked, and they will not likely have to auger through ice before dipping their hooks on April 15. Of course, this situation could change briefly on Sunday, but, as of right now, most of the Island is snow and ice-free. In reality, the winter of 2016 hasn’t packed much of a punch; no long stretches of cold weather and no huge cuttings to photograph and load onto social media. Which is why this year has all the makings of an early spring. The spring lobster and oyster seasons were delayed a full week last year, but fishermen are not expecting any holdups this time. The same goes for farming. Unless there is a big turn in the weather, farmers should be getting an early start this year. Despite the late start last year, most farmers were able to complete their harvest without much anxiety. There’s always that rush to get on the land, though. The earlier on, the earlier off, is the reasoning; that, and taking advantage of as much of the good growing weather as possible.