By Ryan Pilon

Delayed thaw both good and bad for crops

Mar 29, 2011 | 11:50 AM

In regards to this year’s crops, there are two arguments when it comes to the recent slow thaw.

The first is warming up slowly it is a good thing because it reduces the risk of heavy flooding. The other is that the weather needs to warm up quickly or it will delay seeding.

Grant McLean, a cropping management specialist with the province, said both are true.

“It’s a catch-22 in either situation,” said McLean.

“It will tend to reduce the severity of the risk of high waters occurring in a rapid time … I think the bigger concern for the guys planting the crops is are we going to have enough time to get the fields dry enough and open enough that we can plant in a timely manner?”

Court proceedings

Attempted robbery at Big River First Nation results in three year sentence

13h ago

Injuries reported

Thieves shoot after victims flee attempted robbery at Sturgeon Lake

14h ago

Riderville

Riders roster decisions loom as training camp returns to Mosaic Stadium

14h ago

It would have been better had the weather warmed up earlier and the melt had occurred more evenly, McLean said.

“Ideally we would have liked to have seen the snow melt occur earlier … so when seeding time arrives, we can get out and plant the crops in a timely manner,” McLean said.

The weather over the next three to four weeks will be significant in terms of how quickly farmers can get their crops seeded and how much moisture there will be, he said.

rpilon@panow.com

by Ryan Pilon

Delayed thaw both good and bad for crops

What's Trending