Snow, an excellent natural repellent, is essential to protect the soil during the winter, only the mild spells that we know contribute to the melting of it and harm crops.
The snow insulates, but above all, protects the plants. “That’s what kills harmful insects and harmful diseases,” said a farmer in an interview with TVA Nouvelles.
“In Quebec, we are in a ‘sweet spot’, where we consume fewer pesticides than in the United States because their climate is much warmer,” he explained.
He added that the government is investing in fall crops as they too “will protect the soil and prevent erosion. It retains nutrients in the soil. It also keeps life in operation in the ground.
Melting snow, on the other hand, leads to an alarming accumulation of water.
“When it starts to freeze again, we end up with patches of ice, which prevents the plant from breathing and which will eventually suffocate it,” said the farmer.
Rising temperatures pose a threat to some crops such as winter wheat, rye and all cow forages such as alfalfa and may hay.
“It’s not the first time that we have mild spells like this, in December or January. In an ideal world, we would have a blanket of snow”, but everything is still possible, according to Jérémy Letellier, president of the Union of agricultural producers of Montérégie.
It is rather the next few months that will be decisive for the future of crops.
The key to success is preparation, according to Letellier. Farmers have no choice but to adapt to climate change.
Some do this by investing more in drainage systems, hedging plans and winter shelters.