(file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Ronald Quaroni

Rain Rain Go away

Rain continues to dampen farmers’ spirits

Sep 10, 2019 | 11:56 AM

Farmers are patiently listening to the forecast and watching the rain gauge as a cool and wet start to September has kept them out of the field.

Meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada, Terri Lang said Tuesday’s expected five millimeters of rain would be tacked onto the current count of 19.8 mm for the P.A area. That puts it slightly ahead of the average monthly rainfall at 49.1 mm.

“It’s been quite the wet start for September,” Lang said. “Not good news for the farmers unfortunately, because they need the warmth and the dryness to get the crops off.

“We’re really lacking that heat and it will just continue to go that way as those nights do get longer, plus as we move into September that risk of frost really comes into play and that can affect some of the crops as well,” she said.

According to Lang, a ridge of high pressure is on its way to the region on Friday and that could bring some nicer temperatures.

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“It looks like a bit of a drier weekend on the way. Probably not a chance of rain until next week sometime. So if they (farmers) can sit it out the next couple of days, towards the end of the week is looking better,” she said.

Prince Albert Agrologist George Lewko expressed a little concern over the damp conditions explaining long periods of wet and humid weather which can lead to crops prematurely sprouting.

“In cereals it can hurt crop quality,” Lewko said. “Sometimes on canola though, a little bit of rain on it, helps ripen it up and change the green count.”

He indicated farmers still have time to wait for warmer days.

“Things can happen very quickly. It only takes a day or two for a standing crop to dry out and you can go back into it. A swathed crop will take a bit longer,” Lewko said.

With luck farmers won’t have to wait too long.

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Ron.quaroni@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @RonaldQuaroni