In a few grateful pockets (mostly south and west of London) the million-dollar rain has come, giving some fields tall, green stalks and potentially bumper yields.
In others, “the crops look completely burnt off, as if they’ve been dead for two weeks,” says Greg Stewart, a corn specialist at the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The months of drought plaguing southern Ontario means 80 per cent of the province’s corn farmers could be soon be entering salvage mode.
Stewart says between 10 and 20 per cent of the corn crop is already “irreversibly damaged” after a continuous stretch of hot and dry weather prevented pollination in the last week.
About 60 per cent of the crop snagged enough rain on the right soil to be “flirting with average,” he said. “They need a just-in-time rain if they are going to hang on to that average yield potential.”
The withered fields will likely be chopped up and turned it into livestock feed — though it will have no valuable grain content.
That might be the fate of the some of the “burned up” corn on Don Kenny’s 486-hectare farm in the Ottawa Valley, one of the hardest hit regions. Also affected are parts of the Niagara, Haldimand and Norfolk regions, which have sandy or clay soil that holds water poorly.
Some of Kenny’s fields got half an inch of rain on Wednesday “a godsend at that point,” but others none at all.
He says some farmers in eastern Ontario have already put in claims for their crop insurance.
About 30 per cent of damage reports so far are due to lack of rain, and there has been an spike in numbers in the past week, said Courtney Reistetter, spokesperson for Ontario crop insurance provider Agricorp. However, corn-related reports usually come in closer to fall.
The part of Kenny’s crop that snagged some moisture could still pull through with an average, or below-average yield if they get some “life-saving showers,” he said.
But the grain prices, driven to record levels by the worst drought in more than half a century in the U.S. Midwest corn belt, are no panacea at the moment.
“If you’re looking at your corn crop, and it’s droughty and not doing very well, you’re not going to pick up the phone and forward-contract it,” said Kenny, though he notes a few lucky Ontario farmers will see the best crop they’ve ever had.
“You’d like to take advantage of that high price but it’s too unpredictable.”
The forecast doesn’t show the warm, dry weather letting up soon. Monday does have a 60 per cent chance of showers, said Peter Kimbell, a warning preparedness specialist with Environment Canada. “But I wouldn’t hang my hat on a whole lot of rain.”
Most of Ontario corn is grown for commercial use, producing ethanol as well as thousands of products from corn syrup and corn starch to crayons and toothpaste. Corn, along with soybeans, wheat and hay are also crucial for livestock feed.
Hay production has also been slammed by the drought, preventing farmers from taking a second cut of the crop, and driving up feed prices.
That places livestock farmers in a precarious position for the winter, says Ann Slater, the Ontario coordinator of the National Farmer’s Union.
Slater, a vegetable farmer, is also feeling the impact of the arid conditions. Her zucchini and summer squash crops are non-existent and her beans are struggling to flower.
Though farmers are used to dealing with frivolous Mother Nature, drought can be especially heartbreaking.
“You do all the work and every harvest day you never know what the return is going to be,” says Slater. “And then you watch it all slowly dry up.”
On behalf of producers like herself who frequent farmer’s markets, she asks consumers to be understanding of a growing season that ravaged tender fruit crops like cherries in April, and has meant smaller quantities and fewer varieties for other vegetables. The looming grain shortage and high prices do mean your grocery bill will go up, but it’s unclear by how much. The message from Henry Van Ankum, chair of the Grain Farmers of Ontario, is that it’s too early to panic.
“The market is reflecting the concern with the way prices have increased, but it’s important to keep perspective,” he said.
Original Article
Source: the star
Author: Alyshah Hasham
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