Well as we get into the last stretch of August the weather hasn't really been very good to push the crop along. Except for four very cool nights and playing the game watch the weather station and drink. Some passed out because it was every 15 min and the temp dropped so fast it wasn't funny. Our area got to zero on the Saturday night south of town but north stayed above. the elevation is higher. I did see in our low spots south by town a touch of frost on the canola pods but under the canopy good. So low areas might have a big swath but small amounts will come in hopper.
Ok the crap report for the past week.
HRS some farmers have started Harvest Management Plus south of the valley but north only a few have. We have one quarter done plus a half on another and i went home. Too early and just like Trudeau its not ready. The wheat has some fusarium showing up but very min and you have to search for it. Did it pay to spray this year not sure as all tests fields show very little difference in plant and leaf and seed but harvest will tell.
I still think late HRS will be the better crop as early set yield in 3 to 5 leaf and it was very dry. But will the late miss the frost. Weather turns wet from tonight on till next Monday or Tuesday. Something funny is happening as we had calls last week for $5.99 premium for old #1 13.5 hrs. Are they filling the bins and they will mix and make out like bandits and farmers will get the shaft. Hrs needs 10 days in our area till all will be moving.
Barley a few just started to swath but probably didn't check the weather report of heavy rain for our area. The five day window is maybe 24 hr window. A lot of feed barley was grown in our area. Guys figured feed price and higher yield give big returns i guess. All barley looks good to great and most will be getting it harvested either way next week after the rain event. I still think malt varieties are just about same on yield as feed ones for our area.
Flax the disaster dirty crop. It is one crop that just never came back. Oh wildcats and every weed did come but the flax never did recover. Some should be just baled and called a day.
Peas some harvest has happened and fields that weren't peas for 8 years or never seeded to peas are doing very very well. Our soil tests for disease in last years pea fields are finding some amazing shit. Like a new form or fusarium in the ground plus yes the pea disease. A 8 year rule should be common practice. Viper damage did hurt some crops again with the cold spring temps. I have one ugly, yes peas 4 years ago one a 10 never peas and two good 6 year apart.
Lentil harvest is happening south of the valley full bore and north just a few grew so just starting. Crop looks very very short south of the valley. But way less rain this year.
Oats is the one crop like i said before looks to have burnt a bit during the hot spell at beginning of August.
Late are very green.
Canola has some frost damage on later crop but min and fields still flowering didn't slow down with cool nights. Late will be way thicker if it makes it two to three more weeks. Lots of horror reports of massive bins getting sent back or mixed off because of heated grain. Big bins little bins it was a rough harvest and harvesting canola at 10 to 12 and not moving doesn't work unless its dried an monitored. Yes we get caught a lot do it happens canola is a funny crop. This year with all the Kochia that's coming in the crops could be dynamite. Early is shorter late is taller and better podded. We need heat and two more weeks on our farm for a good result. Others need a month.
Pastures are holding up well and second cut fields will do better than first. Also old fields had the biggest issues. Now guys who set aside a field for green field are smiling very well.
continued due to 5 photo rule.
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