Weather Station Assistance Program

 

To understand the agricultural benefits of weather stations, you need to understand the importance of weather forecasting to growers. Weather plays a crucial role in commercial and domestic agriculture, and one miscalculation can result in a poor harvest. With labour and material costs increasing, there is very little room for error. Weather stations will not stop a hurricane or a heat wave, but they will provide you with hyperlocal weather data that can be used to make proactive planting and harvesting decisions. Climatic variations across Nova Scotia, particularly the Annapolis Valley, can be extreme. Due to the unique topography and proximity to the Bay of Fundy, weather conditions may vary greatly between two farms separated by less than 25 km.

Agricultural weather stations are specifically designed to deliver more valuable information to growers through real-time data monitoring. For example, weather conditions have a huge impact on crop growth. Many crops require high temperatures and humidity, while others thrive in colder, dry environments. Many growers also use temperature, humidity, and other factors to predict pest infestations and disease outbreaks, so that they can proactively plan planting, harvesting, and protection accordingly. You can accurately track climatic changes over the course of a day, week, season, or year with a weather station depending on your location, allowing you to make informed decisions in subsequent years.

 

Weather Station Assistance Program

The Weather Station Assistance Program encourages producers to embrace on-farm weather station technology and adopt tools that allow them to fully utilize the data gathered. This will strengthen the industry and empower producers to make necessary proactive management decisions to mitigate the impacts of climate change and adverse weather conditions.

Eligibility

A farm that:

• is currently and properly registered in the correct income category under the Farm Registration Act
• applicant is at least 19 years of age and actively farming in the program year

Agricultural Industry Association:

• represents identifiable Nova Scotia agriculture and agri-food products; and
• demonstrates not-for-profit status by providing documentation

Read the Program Guidelines for detailed eligibility criteria.

Deadline or important dates

Program Opening: 15 March, 2022
Application Deadline: 30 April, 2022

How to Apply

Complete and submit the Weather Station Assistance Application to the Programs office.

Clients new to programs since 2018 must complete the Program Funding Registration (PFR) Form. Returning clients to update PFR form as necessary.

Supporting Documents

Program Guidelines, Application Form and Program Funding Registration Forms are available in the “Downloads” section.

By: Dustin MacLean, Horticulturalist/Field Plant Pathologist 

Farming in a Humid Year, Part of Perennia’s “Getting into the Weeds” Seminar Series

 

We are excited to announce our virtual seminar series Farming in a Humid Year, part of our annual Getting Into the Weeds series.  This year we are excited to host five online sessions to discuss several aspects of farm management in a humid year.  For more details, please click on the links below.  Please join us as we take a deep dive into agriculture production targeting moving the industry forward!

Pesticide points and CCA CEU Points will be available!

 
November 23, 12:00-1:00
Paul Hildebrand: Understanding the Infection Cycle on Your Farm: Targeting Effective Disease Management.

November 30, 12:00-1:00
Sajid Rehman: A Disease Summary of 2021 – What Did We Learn?

 
January 12, 12:00-1:00
Jennifer Foster and Katie Goldenhar: Fundamentals of Fungicides.

 
February 3, 12:00-1:00
Peter Sikkema: Why Herbicides Fail: Targeting Effective Herbicide Application.

 
TBD
Dan Olmstead: How Weather Station Decision Support Tools Can Affect You and Your Farm.
Stay tuned for more updates: https://www.perennia.ca/learning/online/

Things are Heating Up!

Thanks to our friends at AAFC, we have the capability to compare our current weather data to that of the past! This helps us understand where we are in the grand scheme of things, and assists in the planning and execution of outdoor planting and field trials. 

Based on the weather measured from March 1st to May 17th 2021, we are right on track with what was observed in 2006 and 2017 for number of days above 5°C. As we amp it up to base 10 degree days, we see we are tracking similar to 2006, 2009, 2014 and 2018.

Despite a relatively dry winter/early spring, we have managed to catch up to the 10 year average the last few weeks! The red line on the graph tracks the cumulative precipitation of 2021, compared to that captured in previous years. Note that 2020 was tracking relatively similar to what we observed earlier this year. Hopefully things continue to progress on the wetter side of things and ease the stress surrounding hot dry growing seasons!

It is important to note that these values were collected at the Kentville Research Station - microclimates DO exist throughout the valley, as well as across province, so this is merely a guideline! For more site-specific information, consider installing your own weather monitoring station!

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Brushing Up On Storm Prep

 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 7^th, 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 22^nd, 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.

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.

Water Use Efficiency

As members of the agriculture industry, we feel the effects of the weather in everything we do and even more so in a year full of challenges, like the one that we’ve had so far. With so little rain in June for most parts of the province (Table 1) and irrigation ponds running lower than usual for this time of year, it is important to take some steps to ensure efficient water usage.

Table 1. Precipitation in Nova Scotia in June 2020 compared to the historical average from June 1981-2010.

Weather Station Location	Total Precipitation June 2020 (mm)	Average Precipitation for June 1981-2010 (mm)	Percentage of Historical Average Rainfall for June (%)
Kentville	49.1	81.6	60.17
Greenwood	25.2	81.0	31.11
Debert	33.9	95.9	35.35
Yarmouth	16.3	94.8	17.19
Sydney	84.0	96.9	86.69
Nappan	20.8	82.6	25.18

 

Make sure irrigation equipment is in good working order.

A cracked irrigation pipe or a leak at a loose fitting may seem like a small issue when there are so many other things that need to be done in the run of a day – especially when labour is already in tight supply. Over the course of a week, you may be losing significant amounts of water which could make the difference for one of your crops later in the season. Check all components and connections in the irrigation system regularly and carry out preventative maintenance when possible.

                               

Although trickle irrigation is more efficient than overhead types, it is still possible to have breaks or poor connections. These lines should be checked and maintained as well.

Irrigate in the morning or evening to avoid excess evaporation.

Where there is limited irrigation equipment or there are many crops that need to be irrigated, it may not be possible to avoid irrigating when the water is most likely to evaporate, when the sun is blazing and the wind is high. Irrigating when there is less chance of water loss to evaporation may be a more efficient method but may also exacerbate disease infections. If there is disease present already, or the crop is particularly susceptible to fungal infections, irrigating at night may provide the cool and damp temperatures needed for disease to flourish. Weigh the benefits of each option and choose what makes the most sense for your crop.

                                           

Greenhouses can experience water stress as well.

In the field, drought stress usually develops over time, allowing the plants to get used to the environmental changes little by little, but in the greenhouse where the environment is more controlled, an abrupt reduction in water supply may cause severe physiological stress in the plants. Be sure to monitor water supply and start rationing if necessary, to ease the shock that would be caused by sudden drought stress.

                                 

Be prepared to make tough choices.

In long periods of drought there may come a point where water supply is so limited that there isn’t enough capacity to water every crop sufficiently. Some factors to consider in deciding which crops take priority for water include critical growth stage, effect on marketability, value of the crop, etc.

For more information, check out OMAFRA’s factsheet “How to Prepare for Irrigation During Water Shortages”.

Things are Heating Up for Insects

Insect development relies on the accumulation of heat throughout the season to progress through their life stages, allowing their development to be tracked with the use of degree day models specific to the insect. By tracking the degree days, the timing of key activities such as adult flight and egg hatch can be predicted, facilitating scouting and pest management activities. To calculate degree days for a particular insect, there are two pieces of information that need to be known: the base temperature (the minimum temperature required for the development of that insect), and the biofix date (the date on which degree day calculations for that insect will begin). The equation used to calculate degree days for insect development is:

GDD = ((Tmax + Tmin)/2) – Tbase

In the equation, Tmax and Tmin refer to the maximum and minimum temperatures on a single day. Using this equation, the growing degree days can be calculated anywhere that has daily temperature information available, making it possible to tailor the model to a particular geographic area. Being able to customize data is important in Nova Scotia where we have a number of microclimates with sometimes significantly different weather often caused by the geography and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean or the Bay of Fundy. Environment Canada lists all of the weather stations available in Nova Scotia both past and present, and can provide the temperature data needed to calculate degree days. Choose the closest weather station logging hourly data for the current year. It is important to note that while degree day modeling can be a useful tool, development models from other geographic areas are not necessarily validated for use in Nova Scotia. Degree day modelling should be used in conjunction with, not as a replacement for, regular scouting.

European corn borer (ECB) is a pest of a number of crops in Nova Scotia. There are two types of ECB, with significantly different development schedules. The univoltine type completes one life cycle in a growing season while the bivoltine type can have two lifecycles in a growing season, though in cool summers the second generation of the bivoltine corn borer may not be able to complete its development.

European corn borer larva in a corn stalk. Photo: https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/fieldcropsipm/insects/euro-cornborer.php  

Both univoltine and bivoltine types of European corn borer use a base of 10°C and a start date of April 1st for degree day development models. As of June 21^st, 239* degree days had been accumulated in Kentville and 190 in Debert. According to the model, at 231 degree days, about 5% of pupae are emerged for univoltine types, with egg laying starting to occur around 425 degree days. For bivoltine types, about 50% of 1^st generation adults are emerged by  281 degree days, with a second generation starting their flight around 792 degree days.

For more information on European corn borer in Nova Scotia, check out Perennia’s new fact sheet!

*These numbers were generated with CIPRA software, AAFC, Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec.

Hailstorms and crop impact

The hail storm over the weekend caused scattered damage in the Annapolis Valley, as well as in Hants, Colchester, and Cumberland Counties.  The degree of damage depends a lot on location and crop type, as well as on wind velocity, the size and shape of the hailstones, and how long the hail lasted.  The warm, wet weather that followed the storm can exacerbate disease problems, especially bacterial infections.

Fig. 1. Healing hail damage on butternut squash,
two weeks post-storm.

Crops with large leaves such as Cucurbits will typically look pretty destroyed, but, depending on the severity of the damage to the leaves, and how well the fruit were protected, might pull out of it with minimal yield loss.  If the Cucurbits are on a drip system, a little extra nitrogen will encourage the regeneration of leafy growth.  Damaged zucchinis and summer squash should be removed.  Leaving damaged fruits on the plant, which are unlikely to be marketable, will be a drain on the plant's resources and could result in more prolonged yield losses.  Depending on the severity of damage, many winter squash will scar-over (Figure 1, Figure 2).  Healed scars should not pose a disease risk, but may render the fruit undesirable to some buyers.

Fig 2. Healed hail damage on butternut squash,
seven weeks post-storm.

Other crops that are susceptible to bacterial rots (Figure 3) such as onions will have long-lasting damage - crop injury (Figure 4) opens the door for bacterial infection, which quickly spreads down the leaves into the bulbs.  Dead tissue is prime for stemphylium infection.  Growers are encouraged to continue with preventative stemphylium sprays.  Copper may help with bacterial infection, but results have been poor on onions in the past.

Leaf loss in crops close to harvest such as sweet corn or root crops should have minimal effects on yield.  However, direct impact on sweet corn ears can render them unmarketable, depending on the degree of damage.

Fruiting vegetables such as peppers will be more prone to sunburn if protective foliage has been badly damaged.  Fruits that have taken a direct hit, depending on the size of the hail stone and the velocity of the strike, can be unmarketable.

Fig. 3. Bacterial infection spreading down an
onion leaf

Losses of flowers and small fruit will reduce yield and delay harvest in crops such as green beans.

Wounds in plant tissue open the door for diseases to come in.  It is recommended that a protectant such as copper or Bravo be applied (if labeled) for your damaged crop, which will help guard against infection while the plant heals.  Always read and follow the label, the most up to date labels can be found on the Health Canada website.

If you have Crop Insurance, it is recommended that you reach out so that they can document the damage.  Should a claim be necessary down the road, they will have a record of how extensive the damage was, which will make filing a claim easier.  The days just after a hail storm are often the worse.  Apply a protectant, maybe give your crop a bit of extra fertility, if appropriate, and then come back in a week to see how things look.  If the crop pulls out of the damage, then no insurance claim needs to be filed.  Registered farms in Nova Scotia shouldn't hesitate to contact Perennia if you are unsure of best management practices in crops that have been affected by adverse weather.

Fig 4. Hail damage on onions

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