By Brendan Wagner

Persistent early season snowfall poses threat to spring seeding

Dec 6, 2010 | 8:25 AM

By Brendan Wagner
 

paNOW Staff

It seems like it's snowing every other day, adding to an already substantial snow pack. And with a long winter ahead, it's a scary sight for many farmers in Saskatchewan.

Most years, farmers like to get a good ground cover to replenish soil moisture. But agriculture commentator Kevin Hursh says not this year after that extremely wet summer.

“There's a long time to go. If we get significant snowfall and snow pack in those wet areas, there's going to be a huge concern for how much acreage may go unseeded again next spring,” said Hursh.

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Hursh said some areas of Saskatchewan, such as the northwest, are better off than others. But the biggest problem is on the eastern half of the province where snow is the last thing farmers need.

“Producers tell me from some of those areas that the culverts were full of water and froze full of water,” Hursh explained. “Any amount of snow and runoff and they're just wondering where this water is going to go.”

The snow has potential to help farmers who grow winter wheat or fall rye and need it to insulate the ground. But Hursh noted the late harvest rendered winter crop acreage insignificant compared to most years.

But even if there is a lot of snow this winter, the rate at which it melts will have a larger say on the impact of spring seeding