A healthy crop in the Weyburn area this year, compared to a spotty, drowned-out crop last year, has had a direct impact on sales of farm machinery, say Weyburn's implement dealers.

"There are still challenges in agriculture, but things are looking up this harvest because for once we have some commodity to work with," said Drew Watson of Watson Distributors.

"A big factor in the past couple of years is there hasn't been a crop out there - it's been rained out or droughted out. Now there's some crop out there to get."

Watson's staff have been kept busy in the sales, parts and service departments this harvest season - "definitely the busiest we've been for the last three years," he said.

Swathing equipment is moving well, as are small-horsepower tractors to move swathers and some combines. Most of the sales are of used equipment.

Although they weren't as busy in the spring, Watson's maintained the same level of staff, anticipating business would pick up.

"I would expect we'll stay busy through the harvest season. It depends how the crop comes off, what condition it's in and commodity prices, if that will spill over into the winter months too," Watson said.

Tom Stephenson of Weyburn Agro Sales says he's moving mostly-used equipment, too - especially swathers - but he's also selling specialty items designed to take off specialty crops.

The movement of used equipment has been timely, says Stephenson, as many dealers were getting too heavy with used stock.

Weyburn Agro customers have been more optimistic this year than last, considering they're taking off more grain.

"I would say we've got better crops in the area this year so obviously we'll be busier," said Stephenson. "The crop prices are still keeping the economy down, but people need the equipment to get the crop off."

Swather sales have also been brisk at Minard Equipment Ltd., says owner Tom Minard, along with purchases of mower conditioners of the new and used variety.

"There's more options this year than last, people feel better. But there's still a lot of worry about the price of grain. Livestock prices are good but it takes both to keep going," Minard said.

The long-time local business owner says he's lucky to be located so close to the main delivery points for area farmers which brings traffic through. But he worries about the industry as a whole.

"There doesn't seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel. If farmers don't make money for a short time they forget about it, but for the long-term it's becoming part of their lives," which definitely effects their spending habits, he said.

Some staff had been laid off at Minard's in the fall and winter, and with competition for skilled labour from companies like Alcatel and the oil patch, it's been difficult to fill those positions during busier times, Minard said.

"It's hard to attract people to an industry that seems to be failing."

Stewart Lumb of Weyburn Tractor acknowledges sales are looking up this year over last, because it's a better crop and farmers have more options.

"Definitely used sales are up. We haven't tried to push new, but new swathers have sold very well, and used combines are selling really well," he said, adding the service and parts departments are also busy.

"The general mood of customers is a little more optimistic. It will take more than this season (to keep momentum going), but a good crop can go a long way in terms of sales," he said.

Sales of farm implements at Ke-Ed Equipment are at a "marked improvement over last year," says owner Jim Keating.

"It's mostly used machinery, there isn't very much new product available. I don't have a new combine in the yard," he said.

Parts and service are very busy, but Keating says they always are this time of year, even in a poor harvest.

Keating is hoping a good harvest season will have lasting effects for his business throughout the rest of the year.