Many of us have unpleasant memories of last year’s Hurricane Dorian and its effects on the many crops that were still waiting to be harvested when it hit Nova Scotia on September 7th, 2019. As we stare down the barrel of Teddy, which is currently predicted to make landfall in Nova Scotia as a post-tropical storm on Tuesday, September 22nd, those unpleasant memories may come rushing back. Thinking about another approaching system might bring up some anxiety, but there was also a lot to be learned from last year’s hurricane.
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| Environment Canada hurricane track map issued 12:00pm September 18th, 2020. |
Get Your Storm Chips (and Produce)
It isn’t practical to think that everything can or should be
harvested prior to a storm system, however, crops that are most vulnerable to weather
extremes can be prioritized in order to save as much of the crop as possible.
Things like cucurbits and field tomatoes are prone to splitting after heavy
rain, so would fall high on the list of things to harvest first. Consider
postponing seeding new plantings or cover crops in the days leading up to a
significant storm. Wind and pounding rain can cause erosion and flooding, which
could easily dislodge tender seedlings or wash away the seed altogether.
Batten Down the Hatches
Greenhouse or high tunnel structures can be dealt with in a
couple of different ways in the face of an impending storm, both with their advantages
and disadvantages. If there is an option to remove the plastic from a
structure, the chance of being caught by the wind and potentially ripping or
acting as a sail and damaging the frame of the structure can be significantly
reduced. The downside to this option is that the crops beneath are exposed to
the elements which may result in crop damage and loss.
If removing the plastic isn’t an option, make sure
everything is sealed up as much as possible to prevent the wind from tearing things
loose and wreaking havoc. Latch and brace doors and tie the sides of tunnels
down tight. Most structures will have a rating for maximum wind speeds they can
withstand. Take into consideration any shelter/exposure provided by the
topography of your farm as well as the up to date weather forecast to help make
an informed decision.
If you have a generator, make sure you have plenty of fuel
and that it’s in an accessible place. If you don’t have a generator and require
power for your watering system, make sure you have some water set aside in
barrels in case of emergency.
The Aftermath
Besides damage by wind and heavy rains, disease issues can
be a big consideration after a storm event. Heavy rain can splash fungal spore
or bacteria-containing soils around, facilitating the spread of infection. Crop
protectant products may be washed away, leaving the plants vulnerable until they
can be sprayed again, if at all. Wind and rain may cause physical damage to the
plants themselves, causing them stress and areas of damage where infection can move
in. High winds sweeping up the coast may even carry insects from elsewhere,
resulting in a flush of insect pressure that would otherwise be unexpected. It
is important to scout your remaining crops as soon as possible after a storm
has passed so that there is opportunity to mitigate any pest pressure brought
on by or worsened by the weather.
I hope that this post will be like remembering your umbrella
when it’s forecast to rain: you won’t end up needing it. In the meantime, keep
track of the forecast and plan ahead as much as possible while we wait to see
what else 2020 might have up its sleeve.