Farmers Forum staff
Some farmers in Southwestern Ontario are rejoicing at the news of a heat wave.
The early season weather was unpredictable and many farmers said extreme weather events made growing and maintaining crops a challenge.
The unpredictable weather included severe thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes. The late June tornado near Glencoe marked the fourth confirmed tornado in the region since early May, following others near Lucan and London.
In Bothwell, Ont., Hope Parks, of Parks Blueberrie,s told the CBC that hail prevented the blueberries from growing at the expected pace, with some bushes being lost. In Thamesville, Adrian Jacques, from Sunshine Farms, said a recent storm affected his cucumber and asparagus crops.
On Monday, June 29, Environment Canada issued an orange-level heat warning for most of Southwestern Ontario indicating maximum temperatures could reach 37 C through the current week, including the weekend. This heat wave is a welcome change for farmers who are sick of the volatile weather.
Despite torrential downpours on Canada Day in some parts of Eastern Ontario, Environment Canada forecasts sunny skies and a high of 29 C until this Sunday.
