This summer, smoke from nearby wildfires shrouded the July skies and protected Penner's young crop from the sun's burning rays, resulting in more seeds per pod and more pods per plant. Canadian farmer Colin Penner looks at his canola crop, which he had planned to be harvesting soon, in Elm Creek, Manitoba, Canada. Penner looks at his canola crop in Elm Creek. In California, smoke from wildfires has devastated wine grape production, with severe damage in 2017 and 2020. Despite farmers' accounts of some benefits to this year's canola crop, smoke can also slow and weaken crop development, Soolanayakanahally said.