Wet, cool weather delays harvest

Friday, 06 September 2019 10:00

Wet, cool weather delays harvest

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Dennis Dueck does a last minute check on his combine before he and his brother-in-law Tom Plett and father Henry Dueck start harvesting oats on Wednesday, September 4, northeast of Boissevain. The cold and wet conditions persisted most of the week and very little harvest activity has occurred in the region. Overall, harvest is less than 20% complete in the area. Environment Canada is forecasting more showers for next week.

As soon as Mother Nature allows, farmers would like to get back in the fields and combine what looks to be a decent crop.

In a rather odd year, the weather patterns in the area are kicking up another fuss. A dry spring was followed by a fair bit of rain in early summer. It dried out again, but near the end of August, the rains returned. Of course, this is the time for harvest, and rains are not as welcome.

“It’s frustrating for sure,” said Minto area producer and Keystone Agricultural Producers President Bill Campbell. “It’s time to be harvesting. You see the crop out there and you want it in the bin. You want to get at it, but we’re in a bad weather pattern.”

He said seeding was a little later this year, and though we had warm spells it was a little cooler than often this summer. Being a little late is not too bad itself as the products they use on crops can keep them green longer. However, delays by rain at this time of the year is more concerning, particular as time goes on.

“The days are getting shorter, and if the ground is wet, and you can’t get going till two o’clock, it can be tough. The kids are back in school, so it’s definitely time to be out in the fields.”

As of now, Campbell figures producers in the Boissevain-Minto area might by 5-10% done, well below normal. Apart from the soybeans and corn, everything is ready to go. It can be difficult if it rains significantly every few days, as it takes time to dry up and get out in the field. Campbell said after a shower it takes at least a day for canola to dry, and about a day and a half for red spring wheat.

Apart from the later crops, he figures most are past the frost concerns. However, as time lingers on, the concern of possible snow grows.

“October can be nice, but it can be a problem too.”

Campbell said there are added expenses when there is higher moisture, whether it be using driers or getting more deductions at the elevator. Getting a crop dry is simply a challenge, particularly since the temperatures have not been consistently high.

Even some of the positives can be vexing.

“The other part that is frustrating,” Campbell stated, “is that we see a pretty good crop out there. It is hard to evaluate it out there now, but is looks good as opposed to other parts of the province. Especially in the Boissevain-Minto-Deloraine-Killarney area. Farmers are anxious to get at it.”

He figured that if producers could get on the fields, it would take about three weeks to finish up the cereals and canola. Then they would wait for corn and soybeans, which will be a little later this year. However, the conditions must dry up. Next week’s forecast is not friendly so far, with about 20 millimeters of rain for Monday and Tuesday. In spite of it all, Campbell remains optimistic.

“We have the potential of a really good crop. It is time to harvest. We need warm, dry conditions. There will be some long hours and some tired farmers, but we will just keep going.”

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff

Read 160 times Last modified on Thursday, 05 September 2019 16:58

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