Wet weather is welcome news for Maritime farmers dealing with drought conditions

A farmer works a field in Churchville, N.S. on Monday, May 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

According to farmer Heather Prescott, the 2025 growing season got off to a good start on her farm in Bass River, N.S.

“It was looking good in the spring,” said Prescott. “And then with the lack of rain dating back to early June, it just kept getting worse and worse over time.”

The outcome has been devastating. Prescott grows blueberries, corn and pumpkins, and says her crop production is down roughly 50 per cent.

She is even having a hard time growing food to feed her beef cattle.

“With the beef right now, I am out harvesting some more grass just to have enough feed to get us through the winter,” said Prescott.

CTV Meteorologist Kalin Mitchell has been monitoring a historically dry summer and autumn, impacting all three maritime provinces.

“The latest update from the Canada Drought Monitor still has the vast majority of the region in severe and extreme drought,” said Mitchell, who added there is some good news: showers are in the forecast for the next several days for Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

“They are going to be hit and miss in their coverage, and they will be scattered around the region,” added Mitchell.

Prescott said any amount of rainfall is welcome news.

“I am worried about how low my well is getting,” said Prescott, who pointed out the current conditions are still far below normal seasonal rainfall amounts.

“We need about two 50-mm rainfall events a week, basically all the way through the end of November,” said Mitchell.

Prescott is cautiously optimistic the wet weather will soon return.

“We need more than just showers,” said Prescott, who hopes some much-need rainfall will help her field and crops recover, and be healthy in time for the spring growing season.