By Geoff Smith

Farmers not quite ready to start harvest

Jul 28, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Early developing crops in parts of the province could see the start of harvest in the coming week, but it will likely take a little longer than that in the northwest and west-central regions.

Daphne Cruise, regional crops specialist for the Ministry of Agriculture, said producers might be able to start desiccating earlier crops in the next 10 days but it will depend on the weather.

“If we get another week of unsettled weather that will just push things off even further. So time will tell on when combines get rolling,” Cruise said.

Crops in the northwest region are reported in good condition, as of the crop report for the week ending July 25. The area was drier than most of the province, with 10 mm of rainfall at Meadow Lake, 16 mm at Turtleford, and 12 mm at Hafford and at Lloydminster. This allowed haying to continue at a rapid clip, without the cut hay deteriorating in the fields. Fifty-three per cent of the northwest hay crop is baled, with another 21 per cent cut and ready to be baled.

The quality of the hay in the northwest is much better than in the west-central area. Fourteen per cent is rated as excellent and 72 per cent good, compared to five per cent excellent and 48 per cent good in the west-central area. Rainfall described as continuous is the reason, with another 41 mm falling at Biggar and 37 mm at Macklin. Cruise said even in the northwest, high humidity has made it harder to dry the hay and get it baled.

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 2

22h ago

Fond Memories

North Stars' 20-year-olds reflect on junior hockey experience: Part 1

Apr 18, 2024

Trades in Sask.

Skilled trades need not limited to building homes

Apr 17, 2024

Some areas of the northwest are getting short of topsoil moisture. Cruise said that area stretches from the Battlefords towards Spiritwood.

“Depending on the area, some areas say they could use a little shot here to help it out. But other areas seem sufficient going into harvest,” she said.

Geoff Smith is battlefordsNOW’s News Director, business and agriculture reporter. He can be reached at gsmith@jpbg.ca or tweet him @smithco.