LLOYDMINSTER – A thick blanket of wet snow brought more disappointment for farmers already struggling with soaked crops.
The snow fell across Alberta’s Peace River and foothills country and the northern reaches of the Alberta and Saskatchewan grainbelts last weekend.
“It’s hard for a producer to see his crop go from number one red, then a couple of rains to number two red, then a snowfall taking it to number three red or Canada Feed,” said Gord Mitchell, at the Alberta Wheat Pool elevator in Grande Prairie, Alta.
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“The outlook at this point is a little bit gloomy.
“With each crop, the farmer has $100,000, $200,000 or $300,000 standing out there,” he said. “We’re down to the last few hours and still they can’t get it in.”
Peace-area farmers were bracing for another five centimetre snowfall expected Sept. 30, he added.
Lloydminster, Sask. agrologist Howie Bjorge said the Sept. 29 snowfall, which covered roads and swaths, will have the most affect on standing crops.
“The snow was so heavy, the flakes so big, it would be hard for any crop to withstand it,” he said. About 25 percent of the area’s crops were standing, he estimated.
Producers could see significant lodging in crops still standing, which will slow and complicate combining.
But Bjorge said he didn’t think it would badly damage quality of swathed crops, even if there is some settling.
Vegreville escaped the snowfall, but was hit with more rain.
Kent MacDonald described the region’s situation as “a real heart-breaker,” with producers powerless to save what had been a quality crop from serious damage and sprouting.
