Snow, rain and cold temperatures continue to keep farmers off the field.
“We haven’t moved a combine in over two weeks, which is a pretty tough way to spend September,” says Laura Reiter, chair of the Saskatchewan Wheat Development Commission. The family farm is located near Radisson, about halfway between Saskatoon and North Battleford.
“On our place, we have about 25 percent of the crop in the bin. We have a large amount of oilseeds and standing cereals to look after.”
Canola can maintain its quality better than cereals during poor harvest conditions. Reiter hopes there won’t be too much bleaching or sprouting on the wheat.
“I’m hoping it hasn’t downgraded too much, but the proof will be when we get back into it with the combine.”
More drying weather is needed for combining to resume, but the forecast is calling for colder conditions on the weekend.
“With it being so wet for so long, moisture levels are up quite high,” says Reiter. “The numbers I’m hearing are canola over 17 percent moisture and cereals over 20 percent, so it has got some drying to do.”
Reiter continues to hope for a break in the weather, saying “it would be nice to get rolling again.”
(picture: Canola Watch-Canola Council of Canada)