Photo by Sackville Farmers’ Market
“This is absolutely the worst and most stressful year we’ve ever had farming.”
– Shelley McDermott, Farmer, TwinAitch Food for Thought
The effects of the ongoing drought could have devastating impacts for Nova Scotia’s farms for the rest of the year.
Drought has been a daily struggle for farmers’ across Nova Scotia. Farming is simply less profitable during droughts due to higher costs and smaller yields. Every year, we talk about how climate change is being deeply felt by our farmers, whether it be the winter storms every weekend in winter of 2022, the floods of 2023, or the major summer heat waves in 2024.
TwinAitch Food for Thought tells us that they are watering their livestock twice as much as they usually would, which means extra labour and resources. Stratton’s Farm tells us that “irrigating at the moment feels like (they) are pouring water onto a desert.” Their transplants are barely holding on, their seeds aren’t germinating, and many of their crops are suffering while water is prioritized for others. Green Oaks Nubians shares that with no grass growing, their goats are exclusively eating hay when normally they’d usually eat pasture from spring to fall, and meanwhile their fields for next year’s hay have seen no new growth. Seven Acres Farm & Ferments tells us that even their normally hardy perennial plants and fruit trees are suffering or dying, and that they anticipate having limited storage crops to get them to the next growing season.
We’ve read from other farmers that current crop harvests have decreased and fall crops are being removed since they likely won’t make it. Farmers are accumulating extra costs (and debt), alongside extra labour to implement drip irrigation throughout their farm. The effects of a drought go on and on.
If farmers can’t recover from extreme weather events with our consistent financial support, it’s going to be a “use it or lose it” situation. We urge our community to chip in and join us at the market to purchase directly from farmers to support them during this incredibly difficult season.
Here’s how you can help local farmers during the drought:
- Buy extra produce and freeze, can, or preserve it at home for a fun weekend project
- Purchase tender, more perishable crops at the market, as these tend to have a shorter shelf life
- Spend money now in anticipation of lower fall harvests
- If farmers offer other products at their booth such as preserves or baked goods, now is a great time to buy those items
- Show your support for farmers through social media: follow them, share their posts, and spread the word
Find a farmers’ market near you on our website here.