‘Almost too late’ for rain for crops in dry southern Sask.

July is on the verge of setting a new record for dryness – and it’s showing on farmers’ fields.

The Agricultural Producers of Saskatchewan (APAS) said many crops are suffering due to hot weather and a lack of moisture.

“It’s getting to the point that it’s almost too late for moisture,” APAS vice-president Norm Hall told the CJME Morning Show Friday.

“The crops are at a state if we do get moisture, in some cases, all it’ll do is deteriorate the quality that is there because they are in harvest mode.”

Specifically, according to Hall, cereals are at the point of no return. But it’s not a lost cause for all crops. He said some pulse crops, like lentils and peas, will still benefit from some rain.

He added, however, that’s not the case for the entire province.

“Up in the northern part of the province, there’s pockets that are suffering from being just as west as the southwest is dry.”

Hall said some of the 2016 crop is still in the ground as the field was too wet for farmers.

He noted that, in some places, as little as 13 per cent of seed is in the ground due to rain – and what did make it in was flooded out.

“Don’t we live in a wonderful province,” he said.