Farmers deal with early October snow

While farmers are in the midst of harvest, Mother Nature decided to bring an early sample of winter to begin October.

People around Regina woke up to a layer of snow on vehicles and streets Monday morning.

Todd Lewis is the president of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and farms near Gray, Sask. He said his farm received some snow but it was less than a centimetre.

“Psychologically it’s not the best thing that’s for sure, looks a lot more like Nov. 1 around here than Oct. 1 this (Monday) morning,” Lewis said.

While snow did fall, warm weather throughout the day melted what accumulated in and around Regina. More snow is expected Tuesday and Wednesday.

Lewis said the snow will cause a bit of a delay in harvest and producers up north are feeling it the most.  That’s where a lot of moisture and snow has already fallen.

“In some cases this is just adding to the accumulation that is already on the ground so it is pretty serious news for those producers,” Lewis said.

Those areas have seen some very serious delays in harvest, with some barely having getting started. The snow can bleach the crops and can actually start the growth process for producer’s grain.

“Those are big financial hits as far as downgrades.”

Lewis said farmers are hoping for some warmer weather to help dry their crops, but said cold weather seems to have blanketed the province.

He said farmers have the equipment needed to handle what the weather throws at them, mentally it may be more difficult.

“This isn’t unusual (weather), it’s not the first time it’s happened but we have to be patient,” Lewis said. ” But as the days get shorter and we don’t see the sunshine, it just gets difficult.”