By Angela Brown

First Nation producer hopes to see more sunshine to improve crop performance

Jul 26, 2020 | 12:55 PM

Similar to many other communities, Red Pheasant Cree Nation hopes to see more dry weather ahead so crops can recover from a long period of heavy rains and wind storms in the Battlefords and surrounding area.

The First Nation located south of Battleford, near Cando, is growing 3,000 acres of canola and 1,500 acres of barley this year.

“We had crop insurance out this week,” Chief Clint Wuttunee said. “So overall, I understand the crops are looking good. However, there are a couple fields that don’t look so good.”

The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s latest crop report for the north-western region of the province, including the Battlefords area, indicated many parts of the region continue to remain wet, causing delays for crop development and haying operations.

The province stated more “warm and dry weather is needed soon” to help dry fields and improve crop conditions. The ministry indicated while most crops are reaching their normal stages of development, some are “a bit behind their normal development, and will need time to catch up.”

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Some parts of the Turtleford area saw as much as 43 millimetres of rainfall for the week ending July 20.

The report indicated the North Battleford area received four millimetres of rain; the Neilburg area, north-west of Cut Knife, 39 millimetres; the Lloydminster area 14 millimetres; the Hafford area nine millimetres; the Mayfair area 24 millimetres; and the Pierceland area saw nine millimetres. The St. Walburg area experienced the most rainfall in the province since April 1 at 394 millimetres.

The province stated most of the crop damage reported for the North-Western region of Saskatchewan for the week was caused by localized flooding and disease. Many farmers are using fungicide while their affected fields are still wet to help protect their crops from the risk of disease.

Producers continue to keep their fingers crossed that a period of dry, sunny weather is on the way.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW