Rain has washed out what was once a promising wild rice crop.
Rain and water flowing in the North has raised lake levels and drowned thousands of acres of wild rice.
Terry Helary, general manager of Northern Lights Foods, said the wild rice crop was shaping up to be a bumper one a month ago, but rising lake levels stressed the plants.
“We’re not sure where all of this water is coming from,” said Helary.
“It’s drowned out a lot of the rice.”
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Wild rice harvest began the third week of August and will continue through to the end of September on the 9,000 acres of wild rice area owned by La Ronge Wild Rice Corp.
About 100 staff are involved in the collection, transportation and processing of the wild rice.
Helary said the staff will still harvest all 9,000 acres, but the crop will be thin, especially in lakes where they are unable to control water levels.
“The yield will be way down.”
Wild rice prices are also way down since the economic downturn. It is considered a luxury item, not a necessity.
“Wild rice has been hit hard by the recession,” he said.
