B.C. heat wave leads to severe damage to some crops, benefits to others
The heat wave that has scorched B.C. has had a mixed effect on farmers on the Saanich Peninsula.
A week of extremely hot days and warm nights means there may be an early harvest for this year's corn crop.
Staff at Silver Rill Corn in Central Saanich say the heat wave was a welcome change after a cooler than normal spring.
The growing conditions have been ideal. The first crop of peaches-and-cream corn should be ready in the next few days.
"Well, corn likes the heat so it grows faster," said Clayton Fox, co-owner of Silver Rill.
"Days like we had when it was hitting almost 40 there, or 40, it grows double than what it normally would in one day," he said.
The heat, however, has had the opposite effect on other crops.
At Gobind Farms, the heat has left about 50 per cent of its berry crop damaged.
The owner of the berry farm says the early raspberry crop was a loss, and he expects to lose between 30 to 40 per cent of his blackberry harvest because of the extreme heat.
"Plants go into survival mode and everything is going to the plant and not to the fruit," said Satnam Dheenhaw, owner of Gobind Farms.
"So the berries just burn up and you can see that they're all sun-scalded, white, pale-looking. They've lost their colour," he said.
While Dheenshaw says the losses to his berry crops have been catastrophic, he still has a good supply of fresh berries at his farm stand.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
Prince William and wife Kate thank public for birthday messages for son Louis
Prince William and his wife Kate thanked the public for their messages which had been sent to mark the sixth birthday of their youngest son Louis on Tuesday.
She was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father. Then life dealt her a blow
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
South Korean sentenced to 14 months in jail for killing 76 cats
South Korean man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison for killing 76 cats in one of the country's most gruesome cases of animal cruelty in recent years.