Steady Brook -
You may be able to see flowers poking out of the earth or buds growing on tree branches but it doesn't mean you'll be seeing farms producing their fruit and vegetables any time soon.
Paul Lomond has farmed fruit and vegetables for about 20 years in Steady Brook and said although he has seen some nice, sunny days, it doesn't mean he'll be running out to put seeds in the ground just yet.
"We haven't started planting, no," he said. "It's a long ways between now and June. It's just too risky that's all. There's still frost, snowfall and everything. We have three or four nice days. That could change pretty quick."
He said growing season can start from late-May to mid-June.
"We may be able to get some field work done but we probably won't plant much ... I don't think we'll plant the more tender stuff until the regular time," he said.
Ruth-Anne Blanchard, crop development officer with the Forestry and Agrifoods Agency, said the current mild weather affords one main advantage to farmers.
"Farmers can start land preparations earlier," she said. "There's no snow so the land dries out a little earlier and they can start the land preparation. They'll be able to get on and plow the fields earlier, get the seedbeds ready. But until the temperatures warm up, they still can't really plant."
"If a farm has an area they normally can't work because it's wetter or not very accessible, with these milder temperatures and less snow, (farmers) are finding that they may be able to work more in those areas," said Blanchard.
Blanchard said even though the sun seems to be shining every day, the temperatures continue to drop at night.
"In terms of planting the crops, until the temperatures warm up and the soil temperatures are better, they still can't plant," she said.
"Farmers usually delay their planting and know when the last frosts are so they'll hold off and plant after that. In terms of the crops, for small seed, it's not going to germinate in these cold temperatures. Until the soils warm up, it's useless to plant," she said.
