Farmers mostly done before snow squall

EAGLE STAFF

West-central farmers had 99 per cent of their fields combined before snow and rain arrived on Oct. 12.

They had “small amounts” of oilseeds, canary seed and chickpeas left in some fields, the latest provincial crop report said.

The region received “limited precipitation” and “many areas remain dry,” said the Agriculture Department report for the week ending on Oct. 13. A total of 16 millimetres fell in the Rural Municipality of Monet, with 13 in the RM of Milden; eight in Fertile Valley, five each in Snipe Lake and St. Andrews and three each in Lacadena and the RM of Biggar, a chart showed.

“Soil moisture levels in the west-central region remain the lowest in the province” at 23 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 26 per cent very short in fields, 18 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 31 per cent very short in hay land, and 12 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 33 per cent very short in pastures.

However, most livestock producers have enough feed for their herds this winter “due to timely moisture throughout the growing season,” the report said.

Around the province, farmers had combined 98 per cent of their fields, with those here and in the northeast 99 per cent finished; southeast and northwest, 98 per cent; and southwest and east-central, 97 per cent.

They still had two per cent of their canola to combine plus five per cent of the mustard, eight per cent of the canary seed, 12 per cent of the chickpeas, 13 per cent of their flax and 17 per cent of the soybeans.

Many areas “got notable rain and snow” on the Oct. 11-12 weekend, welcomed by farmers who were finished. Wind, frost and snow caused minor damage to some crops still in the field, where “wildlife and migratory birds” helped themselves.

Department staff will distribute the final crop report of the season on Oct. 30.