DAVIDSON, Sask. - Torrential rains late in the season are adding stress at a time that is already taxing for farmers. The recent moisture has prevented producers from getting into fields and further delayed harvest in many parts of Saskatchewan. The most recent government-issued crop report shows only 27 per cent of Saskatchewan crops have been harvested, which puts producers far behind the five-year average of 58 per cent. Rob Stone, who farms an hour south of Saskatoon, is usually ahead of the provincial average. But right now, he only has 18 per cent of his crops in the bin. “Bluntly, it has been a bit brutal,” Stone said. Stone’s area received about 150 millimetres of rain over the course of a week. He was forced to wait for fields to dry up before he could get equipment running again. “Everything is in good shape and we need to go, but the weather needs to co-operate,” he said. Further south, near Montmartre, Sask., the Kotylaks are still waiting for their crops to dry after torrential rains flattened some of their fields. “In 37 years, this is the worst canola I have ever seen,” farmer Peter Kotylak told CTV News while standing in one of his waterlogged crops. “The rain came at the wrong time this year.” Farmers in certain areas have struggled with the weather all year long. A late snow dump and spring flooding pushed seeding back. Now rain is prolonging harvest. “The year got off to a slow start and it has just gotten further and further behind,” said Bill Prybylski, president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan. “It’s been very stressful.” The recent rain is not only burning time but also hurting yields and potential profits, Prybylski said. “Some crops are definitely going to be hurt more than others,” he said. “There will definitely be some downgrading in the quality of the grain.” Stone expects his wheat and lentils to decrease in grade and yields due to the rain delays. The potential losses come at a time when farmers are facing record high input costs. Tariffs and trade uncertainty drove up the costs of fuel, fertilizer, machinery and repairs. “This is the most expensive crop we have ever grown,” Stone said. “If the yields are not there, people will be on the wrong side of profit.”
