How the unpredictable weather is affecting local farmers

From heavy rains to sudden jumps in temperature, the unpredictable weather is taking a toll on local farmers.

“It’s the best day of the year. In fact, it’s summer now, spring is gone, winter is gone... this is summer, sleeves are up,” shared Andy Selin a Barrie resident.

A wet and otherwise grey month of May has affected more than people’s plans to hit the beach. The people who grow our food say they are rearing to get going.

“We are probably a week behind on some stuff, uhm, but then on other stuff we are perfectly on time,” shared a member of Harris Farms.

The first crop of the year at Harris Farms on George Johnson Road is asparagus. It’s for sale Monday night. Next up to go in the ground are tomatoes. Staff are keeping a very close eye on the weather.

“We like to see a rain every week. We don’t care if it’s during the day or during the night we’ll take a rainfall every week,” said a member of Harris Farms.

Environment Canada says May was clearly one of the wettest in recent memory.

Dave Phillips with Environment Canada says, “The second week of May we had temperatures that were almost six or seven degrees warmer than normal. Last week, I mean, six degrees colder than normal with a lot more rain,” he said.

“It will be about mid July before we can harvest these onions,” said Kyle Swales from Sunny Nature Farms.

Over at Sunny Nature Farms in Midland, farmers are liking what they see so far and this short break from rain will help them get back in the field planting.

“It would be nice if we have a little bit more sun but kind of take it as she comes... so we have some carrots to put in the ground here soon and and we’ll just kind of take the weather as she goes,” Swales continued.

Brace yourself for more of the same cloudy wet conditions until the weekend. After that, Dave Phillips with Environment Canada says people can get ready for hotter than normal summer months.