By Tom Collins
A warmer-than-normal winter might help farmers get into the fields earlier than expected, says an Environment Canada senior climatologist.
David Phillips said the second-warmest winter of the past 69 years means the ground is softer than it was the last few years. The warm winter — warmer than normal every month since September — might lead to less winterkill.
“One of the real benefits of a balmier-than-normal winter means that spring comes faster,” he said. “It may very well be that farmers find their field activity is earlier than last year and there’s a potential for seeding earlier.”
After a milder-than-normal March, April looks to be a little cooler than normal for Eastern Ontario, he said, while the summer months look to be warmer than normal. The springtime precipitation totals are estimated to be normal, he said.
