It has been an unseasonably dry spring and summer this year.
Farmers across southern and western Saskatchewan are hoping that rain clouds appear across the province to help with the widespread drought that has also consumed most of eastern Alberta.
"The dry season has been affecting crops in southern Saskatchewan," said Grant McLean, Saskatchewan Agriculture crop manager specialist in Moose Jaw.
McLean said the crops in Moose Jaw are holding up better than the rest of southern Saskatchewan because of the surrounding area's heavy texture soil.
"The soil around Moose Jaw is better than the sandy soils southwest of the city," said McLean.
The dry weather has taken its toll on crop farmers.
"Some farmers are under a lot of stress and the drier weather could cause some serious problems for both the annual and perennial crops," he said.
The communities hit the hardest in western Saskatchewan are Rosetown, Kindersley and Unity said McLean.
The problem began in the winter when regions of Saskatchewan received low precipitation, with little snow cover and not enough rain to sustain healthy crops. Coupled with low seasonal temperatures, the drought began said McLean.
"Many regions have become severely handicapped by the lack of precipitation," said McLean.
The economic impact for individual crop farmers could be quite severe said McLean. However, he said it is too early and difficult to predict anything.
"We do not know what will happen in the coming weeks."
McLean said that many producers are frustrated as they have invested a lot into this year's yield.
"We could see some disappointing yields, if any at all," said McLean.
He said July is historically a drier month in Saskatchewan and may not deliver the moisture that producers are looking for to save their crops.
McLean is unsure if the drought area will expand into the Moose Jaw area and said that some much needed rain is important.
Colin Dewar can be reached at 691-1263.
