Localized hail damage was reported in the Weyburn area during a brief hail shower on Wednesday, but little damage has been done in general over the past week.
The continuing rainfall has improved area crop conditions a great deal, and Weyburn agrologist Elaine Moats says the warmer temperatures have also helped.
"The crop growth really started to come along here with the combination of rain and warmer temperatures," Moats said. "Towards the end of last week you could really see a difference in crops starting to grow very quickly."
Moats said as of Monday most of the area received between three and four inches of moisture. "As you go west from Highway 6 the amount of moisture seems to drop off," Moats said.
Pasture conditions have also improved and already-grazed land is beginning to grow back. Moats predicted regrowth in hay fields as well.
There has been little spraying in the area due to the wet conditions and continuing rainfall. "There was a bit of spraying off and on last week but it depended on how much rain people had and how wet their fields were," Moats said. "The aerial applicators have been doing some business in between the rains but there's a lot of fields that are too wet to travel on."
Moats said the wet conditions will be a frustration for farmers who want to spray. "About the time it started raining is about the time that people were wanting to really get at it as far as spraying goes," Moats said. "It's something that's an inconvenience that way but I'm sure they'll be able to work around it."
Moats said some fields may be weedier than farmers initially desired, but said the rain is a better trade off.
Box 400, 904 East Avenue
Weyburn, SK
S4H 2K4
Phone: (306) 842-7487
Fax: (306) 842-0282
E-mail: production@weyburnreview.com
This web page and its contents are copyright of the Weyburn
Review (1987) Ltd.