Canada - Taber corn crops devastated by hail storms for second year
06.08.2020 172 views
Hailstorms once again destroyed the Molnar’s Taber corn crop this season, but since the damage came earlier this season than last summer, they anticipate the late crop will be ready for market in a few weeks.
“It was devastating again to have our crop hailed out and we just keep our fingers crossed that the hail stays away. We’re excited that the next set looks so good and we should have delicious corn ready by the end of August,” said Jenn Molnar, of Molnar’s Taber Corn and Pumpkins.
“We’re in better shape than last year but we’re still behind. It looks really good, the late crop has come back really nice and when it does come we’ll have lots of it. It’s just a matter of getting it to ripen. Hopefully in that last week of August is when we’ll start,” he said.
James said that before last August, their corn crop hadn’t been struck by serious hail in more than 30 years. They have experienced minor hail damage that affects about 10 to 15 per cent of their crops, but it’s unusual for storms to take out 100 per cent of their corn two years in a row.
The economic blow for a second season means the Molnars can’t make planned purchases, such as an upgrade to a tractor this year.
“I just hope that when the corn does come out, people eat a lot of it,” said James. “That’s all I can hope for. Especially with people not travelling so much, I hope they stay home and enjoy a BBQ with a cob or two of corn.”
James Johnson of Johnson Fresh Farms said they were shocked when the hailstorm in June ruined a section of corn crops less than a year after the last severe hailstorm.
While Johnson Fresh Farms also took considerable hail damage to their Taber corn crops this year, they weren’t hit as hard as last season.
“This year hasn’t been without its challenges. We had another significant hailstorm earlier in the season, which causes some struggles when it comes to growing. But we’re still in our early variety corn, it’s growing really fast so it’s not as sweet or big as our main season stuff but it’s a little teaser,” said Johnson.
About 30 per cent of their crops this season were destroyed by the hailstorm but the rest was salvageable. They’ve started shipping corn to stores and farmers markets.
“It’s still a pretty significant loss for us but nothing like last year’s,” said Johnson. “We’re feeling optimistic that we’re making the best of another disappointing season because of the weather, but we’re starting to go out and see people smiling and happy about our corn.”
Source - https://calgaryherald.com
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