There are few things in life that can be predicted, but a number of area agriculturalists don’t feel like they are going too far out on a limb to say this could be a pretty good harvest.
Despite a cool and wet spring, the heat is on in the late summer and crops are looking strong, indicating it may be a very good year.
“I would say if the weather holds here, it looks like a bumper crop,” said Starland Ag Fieldman Al Hampton. “For most people it is going to be a pretty good crop. The rain came at the right time and heat came at the right time, and I don’t think disease is going to be as big a factor as last year. You are going to hear some pretty good stories, and I have already heard a few.”
Farmers in the area are busy with harvest. Despite the cool and wet spring, the heat in August and September is looking good for crop yields throughout Starland and Wheatland Counties.
Hampton told The Mail on Monday he figured crops were about 10 per cent in, but if the weather forecast is correct, by the end of the week they could be approaching 40 per cent.
Russel Muenchrath, Ag Fieldman for Wheatland County is also positive. While there were a couple showers in the area over the weekend, everything is going well.
“If it stays like this, crops will be coming off in good shape and people will be happy,” he said.
Muenchrath said the late summer heat was a welcome to ripen and dry crops. The early summer moisture wasn’t the best for hay however, and most was put up wet.
“There has been some hail damage in some places, but now that seems to be the norm rather than the exception,” said Muenchrath.
He estimates farmers are anywhere from 30-40 per cent complete.
Bowen Clausen, Ag Fieldman for Kneehill County says harvest is ticking along.
“Everything has been great,” said Bowen who estimates about 30 per cent of the crop is up.
“Most of the canola is knocked down, they are starting on wheat and most of the peas are almost done,” said Clausen. “It is looking pretty decent at this stage.”
Clausen doesn’t describe it as looking like a bumper crop, but doesn’t write it off either.
“I would say average to above average, but I wouldn’t say bumper crop, just because of the cool wet start, I think it slowed things and maybe stressed some of the plants a bit. So I would say average or a bit above.”
