The recent extreme cold predictions are another setback for B.C. farmers who are already suffering the effects of climate change. Heatwaves, wildfires, and floods have all had an impact on agriculture output.
Canada has issued severe weather alerts for much of British Columbia, predicting that the province’s historic cold spell to last until the end of the week. After a year of bearing the burden of natural calamities in the province, farmers in British Columbia are doing their best to cope with record-breaking cold and snowfall.
On Tuesday, Environment Canada issued severe weather warnings for much of British Columbia, predicting that the province’s historic cold spell will last through the end of the week.
The warnings were released at the end of a disastrous year for the state, which saw deadly heat waves and the third-worst wildfire season on record. In recent years, disastrous floods have wreaked havoc on infrastructure and harvests.
The province’s farm output has already been impacted by a series of climate crises, from fruit crops “frying” on the branches during the heatwave to wildfire smoke tarnishing wine vintages. According to Stan Vander Waal, president of the B.C., the recent cold spell has added to the unpredictability of farmers in the province.
“The issues we see as farmers today are dealing with the unknown more and more,” he remarked. “How do you compensate for these terrible circumstances?” Vander Waal expressed concern for parts of B.C. that have lately experienced flooding, particularly the low-lying Sumas Prairie area east of Abbotsford, which has been ravaged by floods.
Source: CBC News
