With especially dry conditions over the past two weeks, farmers in our region are hoping Mother Nature will bring some rain soon.
Heading out into the field to plant soy beans on Saturday, the Harris brothers love working on a warm sunny day but they say they are ready for some rain.
“We need it badly, if we could get an inch of rain that is perfect. Within about a week if you can get your crops in and they come up within a week, that is ideal. Then your germination is about 100%,” said James Harris.
Farmers say it’s been a great planting season. Warm, dry days allowed them to get the seeds in the ground but without a significant rainfall in the last two weeks, the crops that haven’t sprouted are at risk of rotting. But rain in the coming days will be critical for the rest of the season.
“If we don’t get it, we won’t have any germination, it won’t come up and it if doesn’t it’ll be very uneven and unhealthy looking,” added Jon Harris.
At Barrie Hill Farms Morris Gervais is relieved his crops survived the overnight frost with the help of large wind machines.
“I feel very relieved that it’s over, there have been a couple frost warnings, last night was the most severe but hopefully it’s the last one,” says Gervais.
But with that he too is hoping for a little rain. Some of the crops that have already sprouted could suffer. While farmers admit they are crossing their fingers for rain, they know the weather is out of their hands.
“It’s just something you have to manage and learn to roll with the punches and play the hand that you’re dealt with by Mother Nature,” adds Gervais.
