Snow Is Expected To Impact Crop Quality

Combines remain parked after yet another weekend of cool, wet weather that included snow in some areas of the Province.

Environment Canada reports the majority of snow, about 15 centimetres, fell in the Rosetown, Kindersley area.

Crops Extension Specialist for the area John Ippolito says prior to September 12th the harvest was at about 50% complete, but it’s been about 10 days since anything has been done and will be longer yet.

“Rosetown, I don’t know if they had more snow or if it was wetter but you do see a fair bit of crop that is actually laid down with the snow. So, standing crop that’s going to be for sure difficult to harvest now cause hopefully once it dries out it stands back up a little bit. There’s a good chance they're going to have to cut it fairly short to get under it, didn’t see near as much of that close to Kindersley.”

He notes quality throughout the area was good but that’s likely going to change now depending on the crop.

“Canola wise probably really no impact on the oilseeds, Canola and Flax. The cereal grains I think for sure there’s going to be a downgrade; how severe it is, is yet to be seen. We would expect to see all the cereal grains lose at least a grade after all this weather.”

Ippolito says farmers will be thinking more about grain drying now.

“Whether it’s actually continuous flow dryers at terminals or supplemental heat in bins that are on the farm. I would expect some guys will be trying those techniques again to get them back in the field sooner.”

Ippolito says, unfortunately, it doesn’t look we’ll see too big a change in the weather with more rain and snow in the forecast.