My region is trying as hard as it can to help make you guys with a crop a little bit of money.
It's over here. Realistically, we lost this crop in may, but technically, it thoroughly failed in june.
Cereals: at this point we're down to "hoping" we'll harvest low spots and water runs in order to get seed back. Personally have fields with less than 30% germination. The vast majority of the remainder will fail to head out. It's currently attempting to flag with most bottom leaves burnt out. Significant portions of fields have self-dessicated and will fail to even put a head in the boot. A 4 row head is in the boot on that which one holds out hope for.
Oilseeds: disaster! Many fields with less than 50% germination. Cabbage was poor, and they're attempting to flower in 90* heat. Significant portions of fields that germinated will not even flower. They are dying in place.
Pulses: Peas are ankle to maybe 1/3 calve and attempting to flower, but failing to set many pods. We'll likely have to go end to end in an effort to manage the residue, but if we get seed back, I'll be impressed.
Pastures: look like they've been sprayed with 3L/ac of Glypho. Dugouts and sloughs I haven't seen dry since the late 80s are once again barren.
The damage from this year, year 5 of drought for some around here, is going to loom large!
Gophers are humming, grasshoppers are biblical, the heat is relentless, and I had to google the definition of rain as I've essentially forgotten what it even resembles.
Context: Of the last 43 years, going back to 1980, this is the 2nd driest May-June period aside from 2015. I harvested tolerable crops in 2015 due to it being cool and having AMPLE reserve moisture. As far as Growing Degree Days (base 5C), as of yesterday, we had accumulated what we should have normally accumulated by July 28th. Largest rain was 0.32", the 2nd largest is 0.24", and the remainder are all less than a tenth and a half. Disgusting, demoralizing, and mentally draining! Bar none, this is the worst start this neighborhood has seen in a very long time, and perhaps ever. Even compared to historical records from the 1930's, we are significantly behind moisture wise. Crops are so poor, there will be no silage put up, let alone bales! Wholesale cow-herd liquidations are necessary, but this very "special" areas has yet to declare a state of emergency, which I believe is necessary to qualify for income deferral of herd dispersals.
Rain, at this point, serves no purpose but to heap insult upon injury. Weeds are stress shocked and not responding to in-crop herbicide app's. A rain now, no matter how large, does little better than ensure we get our seed back. On the other hand it'll make harvest of an absolute garbage crop a complete nightmare.
To those that have a crop, I suggest you be thankful and humble. To those who do not and are silent and suffering, you are not alone.
Helmsdale... Living the Dream!
It's over here. Realistically, we lost this crop in may, but technically, it thoroughly failed in june.
Cereals: at this point we're down to "hoping" we'll harvest low spots and water runs in order to get seed back. Personally have fields with less than 30% germination. The vast majority of the remainder will fail to head out. It's currently attempting to flag with most bottom leaves burnt out. Significant portions of fields have self-dessicated and will fail to even put a head in the boot. A 4 row head is in the boot on that which one holds out hope for.
Oilseeds: disaster! Many fields with less than 50% germination. Cabbage was poor, and they're attempting to flower in 90* heat. Significant portions of fields that germinated will not even flower. They are dying in place.
Pulses: Peas are ankle to maybe 1/3 calve and attempting to flower, but failing to set many pods. We'll likely have to go end to end in an effort to manage the residue, but if we get seed back, I'll be impressed.
Pastures: look like they've been sprayed with 3L/ac of Glypho. Dugouts and sloughs I haven't seen dry since the late 80s are once again barren.
The damage from this year, year 5 of drought for some around here, is going to loom large!
Gophers are humming, grasshoppers are biblical, the heat is relentless, and I had to google the definition of rain as I've essentially forgotten what it even resembles.
Context: Of the last 43 years, going back to 1980, this is the 2nd driest May-June period aside from 2015. I harvested tolerable crops in 2015 due to it being cool and having AMPLE reserve moisture. As far as Growing Degree Days (base 5C), as of yesterday, we had accumulated what we should have normally accumulated by July 28th. Largest rain was 0.32", the 2nd largest is 0.24", and the remainder are all less than a tenth and a half. Disgusting, demoralizing, and mentally draining! Bar none, this is the worst start this neighborhood has seen in a very long time, and perhaps ever. Even compared to historical records from the 1930's, we are significantly behind moisture wise. Crops are so poor, there will be no silage put up, let alone bales! Wholesale cow-herd liquidations are necessary, but this very "special" areas has yet to declare a state of emergency, which I believe is necessary to qualify for income deferral of herd dispersals.
Rain, at this point, serves no purpose but to heap insult upon injury. Weeds are stress shocked and not responding to in-crop herbicide app's. A rain now, no matter how large, does little better than ensure we get our seed back. On the other hand it'll make harvest of an absolute garbage crop a complete nightmare.
To those that have a crop, I suggest you be thankful and humble. To those who do not and are silent and suffering, you are not alone.
Helmsdale... Living the Dream!
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