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Quebec apple farmer deploys anti-hail cannon to shield crops from icy weather
🇨🇦 Canada /Environment & Climate

Quebec apple farmer deploys anti-hail cannon to shield crops from icy weather

From Global News · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A Quebec apple farmer is using a specialized anti-hail cannon, believed to be the first of its kind in Canada, to protect his crops from icy weather.
  • The Spanish-made device, costing $160,000, operates by creating controlled explosions that blast shockwaves into the air, converting hail into water.
  • The farmer hopes the technology, monitored by meteorologists in Brazil, will help his orchard adapt to changing weather conditions attributed to climate change.

Maxime Brie, a fourth-generation apple grower in Quebec, is deploying an "anti-hail cannon" in a bid to safeguard his orchard from damaging icy weather. The device, located southeast of Montreal at Verger des Bois-Francs, is reportedly the first of its kind used in Canada.

For sure it has millions of dollars of loss when we get hit by hail.

— Maxime BrieThe apple farmer described the significant financial impact of hail damage on his crops.

Hail poses a significant threat to agriculture, with Brie estimating potential losses in the millions of dollars when crops are hit. Damaged fruits must be processed into juice or sauce, drastically reducing profits. To combat this, Brie's family invested $160,000 in the specialized cannon.

The cannon, manufactured in Spain, functions by generating controlled explosions near its base. These explosions create shockwaves that travel into the atmosphere, theoretically transforming hailstones into harmless water before they reach the ground. The device is connected to a weather station in Brazil, where meteorologists monitor conditions and alert Brie to approaching storms.

One cannon … can protect up to 80 hectares of land.

— Maxime BrieBrie explained the coverage area of the anti-hail cannon.

"Before they start the cannon, they’re always going to write us on their WhatsApp Group to make sure, ‘OK, I’m going to start the cannon in maybe 10 minutes, there’s a storm approaching,'" Brie explained. While some cannons require manual activation, this model allows Brie to initiate it remotely via text message if needed.

Before they start the cannon, they’re always going to write us on their WhatsApp Group to make sure, ‘OK, I’m going to start the cannon in maybe 10 minutes, there’s a storm approaching,'

— Maxime BrieBrie described the communication process with the weather monitoring service before activating the cannon.

Despite its effectiveness, the cannon produces considerable noise, though an outer metal cylinder is designed to mitigate this. Brie is hopeful his neighbors will understand its necessity, especially in light of changing weather patterns linked to climate change. "We are adapting ourselves to make sure that we’re going to be resilient over the years," he stated, emphasizing the importance of protecting the expected abundant yield from this summer's favorable conditions.

We are adapting ourselves to make sure that we’re going to be resilient over the years.

— Maxime BrieBrie discussed the orchard's strategy to cope with changing weather conditions.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Global News in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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