Estevan - This morning - Freezing hard right down to South Dakota

[LWeber]

Actual temps on farm will be 2-3 degrees C colder than airport temps

16 May 2009
5:00 Clear -4
4:00 Clear -5
3:00 Clear -4
2:00 Clear -5
1:00 Clear -4
00:00 Clear -3
15 May 2009
23:00 Clear -3
22:00 Clear -1
21:00 Clear 0

Also -5C in Brandon

[furrowtickler]

Cold as heck here again this a.m., -4 and as you stated it has been freezing for a good 5-6 hrs. I think the western Canadian pea crop is in major trouble. Not enough seed for even half to be reseeded. No red lentil seed on the planet. At least ten percent of the Canola is in trouble still time and seed there. Oat and barley acerage may make a come back yet, what are your thoughts Larry?

[SASKFARMER3]

Since it snowed yesterday took a drive West to Moose Jaw and down to Assiniboia. Not one I repeat not one guy seeding till late in Afternoon Friday. One guy rolling peas at moose jaw and another south of city rolling peas. Big surprise was how little is seeded in this strip. If I had time should have took the red coat to Weyburn then back home. I think were way behind in seeding this crop its the may long and some in Yorkton area arent even going yet and then their is the dry area from Rosetown south.
Yea its a great start.

[LWeber]

I think we are in deep shit...just looked at 2002 maps again versus 2009 in NW SK and NE AB - 2009 is worse

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/Cool weather slows seeding/1602522/story.html

[LWeber]

Commodity funds now own 55% of the July canola contract.

Peas and lentils will be interesting - The Shah in Regina should be worried about reds...

If it doesnt straighten out next week and Drew says it is not - looks for acreage reductions and changes in a big way ...

[pilpilsner]

Imo the tradwng range of canola and beans was not established in the last bull run

[pilpilsner]

Questio will the coldness screw up the innoculant of the pulse crops

[furrowtickler]

I am woundering about the innoculant as well, my feeling is that if the pea/lentil seed rots the fungi dies b/c no roots as a host? I am hopeing that at least 50% make it so I can reseed at 75 lbs/ac. I would have enough seed to cover that and still keep some of the viable crop that is there. The damage will show up within the next two days.
Pea establishment is critical, 30% reduction in plant stand will mean 30% reduction in yeild. But hey, no frost this a.m.

[Hopperbin]

I believe the innoculant stays viable in the soil because they claim you can reduce your innoculant if growing peas where you grew peas before. It should survive just in the soil.

[Hopperbin]

Sorry best to ask the manufacurer, even my tagteam gran needs to be right in the seed row.