Island farmers hoping for more consistent temperatures

With a cold snap acrossP.E.I.following recent mild temperatures, some Island farmers are concerned about how changing temperatures will affect their crops.

"If this pattern continues, it's hard on the crops that have to overwinterfreezing and thawing, and we can't seem to break out of it," said Frank McCardle, who grows cash crops at his farm in Middleton, P.E.I.

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McCardlesaid he's particularly concerned about his winter wheat, which already shows some signs of frost damage. He saidit's one of the worst years for freezing and thawing that he's seen in a while.

"We always see some of it on P.E.I., but not on a consistent basis. This has basically been our winter so far,a stretch of real cold weather and then real warm weather," he said.

Risk of winter kill

Matthew Compton, who grows berries at his farm in Summerside, is also concerned about the fluctuating temperatures and potential damage to his strawberries.

"It's the worst thing you could have for a crop that over winters especially strawberries. They're really sensitive to

It's just more orless a waiting game until they start to regrow again.- Matthew Compton

thawing and freezing," said Compton.

He said he had lower a lower yield of strawberriesthanusual last year, and he saw signs of damage from a similar freez-thawcycle. He saidhe's anticipating seeing some damage again this year.

"When we have a few hot days, [strawberries]can potentially come out of dormancy, or hibernation, and they can start to regrow, start the regrowth. And then you get a real cold spell and they'll just die off. [That's] what we call winter kill."

'A waiting game'

Compton and McCardleare both concerned about their crops, but neither will know if the crops have been damagedand the extent of ituntil the spring.

"It's just more or less a waiting game until they start to regrow again in the springtime," said Compton.

McCardlesaid he's seen years where he expects his crops to be a writeoff,but they've ended up rebounding.

Both farmers took steps prior to the winter to reduce the risk of winterkill. McCardlesaidhe planted his crops as early as possibleso they'd have a strong root systemand be more likely to withstand frost and fluctuating temperatures.

Compton coveredhis strawberry plants with strawto help protect them from the elements. Despite his concerns, he's optimistic the straw could do the trick.