In Quebec’s Montérégie region, an apple grower at Verger des Bois-Francs in Saint-Paul-d’Abbotsford is utilizing a unique technology to safeguard their crops from severe weather. They have invested $160,000 in an anti-hail cannon due to the significant damage hail can cause, as stated by Maxime Brie, the co-owner of the orchard. A recent hailstorm on May 31, attributed to climate change, led to limited damage at Verger des Bois-Francs but resulted in substantial losses for other apple growers in the area.
The anti-hail cannon operates by using acetylene gas to create explosions at seven-second intervals, generating shock waves that convert hail into water. While the effectiveness of this system is debated, the orchard owners decided to experiment with it. The cannon is connected to a weather service that monitors approaching thunderstorm cells. The service activates the cannon when a storm with potential hail approaches and deactivates it once the threat has passed. Recently, the cannon was preemptively activated as a thunderstorm loomed, posing a hail risk.
Despite its protective benefits, the cannon has elicited complaints from neighbors about the noise from the detonations. To address this, the orchard has installed a silencer that reduces the noise by half. Brie hopes for understanding from the community, emphasizing that the cannon will only be used when necessary. He anticipates that the investment in the anti-hail cannon could prove cost-effective if it prevents damage from a major hailstorm.
Additionally, the family owns orchards in Princeville and Plessisville in the Centre-du-Québec region. They intend to evaluate the effectiveness of the first cannon before considering implementing similar technology at their other orchards.
