Maritime farmers hit by major drought last summer say they’re on the road to recovery

A year after a severe drought affected farmland across the East Coast, some Maritime farmers are reporting signs of recovery. The combination of rainfall and favorable weather conditions has enabled several crops to regain stability, according to local growers. However, lingering effects from the harsh summer of 2025 remain evident. Danny Dill, owner of Howard Dill Enterprises in Windsor, N.S., described the drought as one of the worst in his lifetime. He noted that even older residents who have lived through many summers recall nothing similar. Dill said he had to refuse customer orders last fall due to a lack of supply, but this year he expects to meet demand. “The pumpkins are coming on, because we’ve had some good, timely rains this year,” he stated. Yet, he observed that the size of his large pumpkin varieties is smaller than usual, raising questions about whether the previous drought might have altered soil moisture levels. Trevor Hadwen, an agroclimate specialist with Agriculture Canada, confirmed that the drought was particularly severe for the region, which rarely experiences long periods of dryness. He highlighted that Nova Scotia, eastern Newfoundland, southeastern New Brunswick, and parts of Prince Edward Island faced severe drought conditions in August 2025. “We see significant rainfall throughout the region each year, so when we look at how dry it was last year, certainly an anomaly in the climate cycle,” Hadwen explained. Patrick O’Neil, Executive Director of the Wild Blueberry Association of North America, described the drought as devastating. He pointed out that July saw nearly no rain in New Brunswick, while oppressive heat made harvesting difficult. Some farmers were restricted from working during peak season due to fire bans and other safety measures. Wildfires also occurred in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, leading to temporary restrictions on outdoor activities. According to a 2020 report by Agriculture Canada, rising temperatures and extreme weather are increasingly impacting agriculture nationwide. The report warned that the Atlantic region could face longer droughts, affecting crop yields and water resources. Milder winters might also lead to increased pest and disease problems. Additionally, the area is vulnerable to rising sea levels, storm surges, and coastal erosion. Farmers like Dill have noticed these changes firsthand. He first became aware of climate shifts around 15 years ago, but the frequency and intensity of extreme weather have risen sharply in the past five years. Flooding, storms, wildfires, and drought have become more common, altering traditional growing patterns. “I knew the shift, the gradual change in the seasons, just because (I’ve) always been watching the land,” Dill remarked. As the summer season begins, Maritime farmers continue to assess the long-term impacts of last year’s drought. While some crops show promise, the challenges posed by climate change persist. With ongoing efforts to adapt, the future of farming in the region will depend on how effectively communities can respond to these evolving environmental pressures.