{
  "id": 5044775,
  "title": "Maritime farmers hit by major drought last summer say they’re on the road to recovery",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/maritime-farmers-hit-by-major-drought-last-summer-say-theyre-on-the",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-02T08:00:04.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Winnipeg Free Press",
    "slug": "winnipeg-free-press",
    "url": "https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/09/02/maritime-farmers-hit-by-major-drought-last-summer-say-theyre-on-the-road-to-recovery"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A year after a severe drought devastated farms across the East Coast, Maritime growers are optimistic about their recovery. In Halifax, some growers say they are on the road to recovery following a mix of rainfall and sunny conditions that helped their crops regain footing. However, Danny Dill, a giant pumpkin grower, described last year's drought as \"historic\" and unprecedented in his lifetime. He had to turn away pumpkin customers last fall due to a shortage of stock, but he anticipates being able to accommodate all orders this year as the pumpkins are on track. However, Dill noticed that his large pumpkin varieties were smaller than usual, possibly due to the drought's impact on soil moisture levels. Trevor Hadwen, an agroclimate specialist with Agriculture Canada, confirmed that last year's drought was significant, affecting regions that typically don't experience prolonged dry conditions. Wild Blueberry Association of North America Executive Director Patrick O'Neil described the drought as \"devastating,\" with minimal rain and oppressive heat in New Brunswick during peak season. Wildfires also burned in the region, leading to restrictions on activity. Agriculture Canada's 2020 summary on climate change impacts on farming predicted that the Atlantic region would face extended drought patterns, milder winters, and rising sea levels. Dill first noticed the effects of climate change on his farm about 15 years ago but has observed a sharp increase in extreme weather conditions in recent years. Jordan Eyamie, manager of Webster Farms Ltd., expressed anxiety about the possibility of another drought, noting the loss of about 20 percent of their strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb, and dry bean yields. Despite the challenges, the frequent rain this year has helped their beans recover and look healthy.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}