Along with record low temperatures this winter, the record for the longest skiing season is about to be broken in London
And it is also one of the latest starts to the golf season.
“Everybody is trying to rush the (spring) season, but it will get here when it gets here,” says Ted Shoebrook.
Boler Mountain will have nine trails open on its east hill on Wednesday, prolonging the season.
Boler usually sees 85 to 90 operating days in a typical year, and this year the tally is 104 and counting. By the weekend, a record will be broken there.
“Maybe we will see April skiing again this season. It's amazing - six months of skiing the last two seasons,” says Marty Thody.
It’s a different story at Greenhills Golf Club and other courses, where there is still snow on the fairways.
“This will be the latest we will ever open here. Typically, we are about mid-April, but this year, late April, possibly even early May," says Greenhills Matt Dominski.
Meanwhile, farmers are also getting a late start.
In some parts of northern Ontario, spring planting could be delayed a month.
Producers at the Grain Farmers of Ontario conference say the later the seeds get in the ground, the higher the chance of impacting the bottom line.
“Both corn and soybeans require every bit of heat and sunlight they can accumulate and that increases the yield. So if you're delayed till the end of May, it certainly cuts down on the yield potential of both of those crops. And, of course, lower yield, then lower income,” says Kevin Runnals of New Liskeard.
Farmers in the southern Ontario aren’t feeling quite as panicked, but Craig Martin, of Waterloo, says the longer the cold stays, the more worried folks become.
“The last few years we have had some early starts. We've come to kind of anticipate doing that. So as we get into April and we're still not turning wheels, there will be some rumblings in the countryside,” he says.
Southern Ontario farmers typically plant within the first couple of weeks in April, but this year it could be well into May.
