Farmers hope to avoid early frost

With a little bit of sunshine here and a wee bit more rain there, the potential of local crops could be looking up.
Regional crop specialist Daphne Gottselig said although some of the local crops are behind at this time, it's not just crop development that is weighing on the minds of farmers. It is also the fear of an early frost that has many of them praying to Mother Nature.
Gottselig said farmers are getting nervous, due to the fact that the crops are a week to 10 days behind in development.
"(But) the potential of a fall frost is on everybody's minds. It's not like it hasn't happened before in August. We can just hope it doesn't happen again," said Gottselig.
With it getting so late in the season, she said it adds to the pressure farmers already face trying to get the crops into the bin, not only in good quality but also good condition.
Gottselig said at this time, some of the lentils and fall cereals, such as winter wheat and fall rye, have been swathed and are starting to be combined.
As for the other crops, many are in the process of being desiccated, however, there are still a few that are looking quite green. In some fields, there are areas of unequal development which could be the cause of a difficult harvest, she said.
"We are behind for sure . . . but the combines and swathers are rolling, so that is a good sign."
Gottselig said if the weather co-operates for the rest of August and provide rain in some areas and heat in others, things could really start to look up.
As for crop conditions, Gottselig said in the southern part of the region, there has been some trouble with grasshoppers. as well some of the pea crops are a bit smaller in stature than usual. however, that is just the odd crop.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture's weekly crop report said provincewide, only one per cent of the 2009 crop has been combined at this time, three per cent less than the five-year average.
As for those crops being swathed, they are sitting at seven per cent as opposed to the average of eight.
The report said that harvest is most advanced in the southwest and southeast parts of the province and although last week provided better growing conditions, rain is still needed in some areas.

Lyndsay McCready can be reached
at 691-1256.