With regard to climate change, we are seeing some positive signs in our region. The changes can be quite positive at certain times of the year and negative at other times. That is not the case in other regions of the province, in Montreal in particular. Eastern Quebec is known for its cool and rather damp climate in the summer. We notice that, when we plant our crops at the end of April or early May, climate change does not really have a significant effect on us at this time.
We are seeing more dramatic changes in September and October, however, with temperatures that are much higher than in the past. This delays the deadly frosts, which is good for us. In the past few years, this has meant a longer production period in the fall. In the past five years, for instance, we have been able to produce strawberries outdoors right up to October 20 or 25, whereas in the past it was hard to get to October 10 and we often had to intervene to protect the plants from the fall frosts. Using large tunnels, we can now easily produce raspberries up to the beginning of November.
Although the production season is getting longer every year, we are increasingly noticing something else. Extended periods of insufficient precipitation will likely force horticultural growers in our region to keep larger reserves of water for irrigation to respond to severe drought. In 2017, for instance, on Île d'Orléans we went more than 60 days without precipitation, and close to 50 days in 2016. The Montreal region has experienced the complete opposite, with very heavy rains throughout the summer. Further, there were numerous disasters in late summer in the Saint-Rémi region, where more than 200 mm of rain fell in less than an hour, destroying all existing crops.
In our region, the yields for crops such as potatoes were significantly lower last year since we do not have sufficient irrigation infrastructure to deal with such situations. In the very near future, we think the federal government should invest in irrigation infrastructure for horticultural production in Eastern Canada to prevent disasters caused by extended drought.
For southern Quebec, it is becoming clear that investment is needed in drainage and run-off infrastructure to drain the land quickly in the event of unusual episodes like the ones we saw in late summer 2017. That would save existing crops.
For my part, I have more than 33 years of experience growing small fruits on Île d'Orléans. In the beginning, strawberries were produced over a three-week period each year, from June 24 to July 15. With the advent of new production methods and everbearing varieties, we can now produce strawberries from the start of May until October 25, for five months of production. For raspberries, production used to run from July 20 to August 20. Now it starts every year on July 7 with the first raspberries and extends right to October 31.
And what about blackberries? Since the climate is too cold in our region, in Eastern Canada, that is, no one would have expected us to be able to produce so much.
Adapted production techniques, production infrastructure, and the overwintering methods for these plants make a difference, but a warmer climate increases their production.
As to the effects of climate change on soil preservation, that does not seem to be a big concern for our region for the time being. However, the extreme events that are happening more and more frequently, such as in the south of Montreal, result in a much more marked erosion cycle and degrade the soil more quickly.
We must remain vigilant about climate change. Although the effects are more positive than negative in certain regions such as ours, the opposite is true in others. Is this entirely the result of climate change? I cannot answer that question. There are extreme trends, however, such as droughts and rain storms, that are a cause for concern.
Thank you for your attention.