Farmers react to wild weather
The Muskoka region broke a century-old rainfall record last month, according to Environment Canada.
According to David Phillips, a climatologist with Environment Canada, the popular Ontario vacation spot was drenched with 204 millimetres of rain in July— nearly triple the usual amount.
"If you look at the last 100 years in modern history, this is the wettest July, and last year was the wettest August with back-to-back extremes, but May and August have been as dry as June and July were wet," said Phillips.
The wet weather has taken a toll on many farmers.
Mark Hinbest, the owner of Utterson Valley Blueberry farm, walked CTV News through his crops and said the rain in July destroyed several bushes.
"I had to use a fungicide on the plants because they developed— as you can see the redness on the leaf— they developed a blight and root rot because of the rain," said Hinbest.
Hinbest said overall, the summer was successful, and they managed to produce plenty of jam and other products for customers, but the loss of several bushes is concerning.
"There's an old saying, 'that's farming,' and you just have to suck it up," said Hinbest. "You just deal with it and keep going along and hope next year is better."
Although the extreme weather has negatively impacted some farmers, others with different crops have benefited.
"We realized that it was essential to build the beds so the rain would runoff. We have lovely social that has a good amount of clay in it, so that holds the water but can also lead to rot, so we had to balance that," said Marni Martin McTavish, the owner of Indigo Rain Flower Farm in Huntsville.
The work that farmers like McTavish and Hinbest are doing is not going unnoticed by other local farmers.
On Sunday, a group is coming together in Utterson for an event titled Muskoka Farms Matter. They will showcase and explain the process of developing their products to other producers, locals and tourists.
"People need to see how much work goes into it so they can appreciate that food in their fridge," said Tom Hollinshead, a local farmer and Muskoka soil and crop board member.
The event will take place at Winding Fences Farm in Utterson from 10 am-4 pm on Sunday, according to Hollinshead.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparent scam: London, Ont., senior beats fraudsters not once, but twice
It was a typical Tuesday for Mabel Beharrell, 84, until she got the call that would turn her world upside down. Her teenaged grandson was in trouble and needed her help.
Deaths of 4 people on Sask. farm confirmed as murder-suicide
The deaths of four people on a farm near the Saskatchewan village of Neudorf have been confirmed a murder-suicide.
George Washington family secrets revealed by DNA from unmarked 19th century graves
Genetic analysis has shed light on a long-standing mystery surrounding the fates of U.S. President George Washington's younger brother Samuel and his kin.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Full parole granted to man convicted in notorious 'McDonald's murders' in Cape Breton
The Parole Board of Canada has granted full parole to one of three men convicted in the brutal murders of three McDonald's restaurant workers in Cape Breton more than 30 years ago.
Rainfall warnings of up to 80 mm among weather alerts in effect for 6 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres and other alerts have been issued for six Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Bus plunges off a bridge in South Africa, killing 45 people. An 8-year-old child is only survivor
A bus carrying worshippers headed to an Easter festival plunged off a bridge on a mountain pass and burst into flames in South Africa on Thursday, killing at least 45 people, authorities said.
Calgary bridges remain closed due to ongoing police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.