First frost arrives 3 weeks early province says

It will be another day or so before we know the impact the first frost of the year had on crops in Saskatchewan.
 
Several places were touched by freezing temperatures this past weekend.
 
According to Environment Canada, the coldest place was Val Marie in the Cypress Hills region which dipped down to -2.4 C. Freezing temperatures were also reported in Meadow Lake and Eastend, the weather agency said Sunday. Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Shannon Friesen says it was unusual to see frost this early in the season.
 
“Our thirty year average for the first fall frost typically doesn’t happen until mid-September to late September.”
 
Shannon Chant, regional crop specialist from Swift Current said she’s had at least one call about frost damage in the Tompkins area.
 
Chant said on the upside, it doesn’t appear to be a killing frost. With harvest full steam ahead in the region, she said crops are advanced enough that the damage would be minimal.
 
“I haven’t heard of a lot. Most of the pulse crops are off so they’re kind of out of the woods, hopefully.”
 
“It takes a couple days to see damage. Initial symptoms 24 to 48 hours then a week to 10 days later you can see the full extend of the damage,” she said.
 
Chant added how long it stayed below zero will also determine how much damage the crop suffers.
 
Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation (SCC) hasn’t had to start any claims today. A SCC spokesperson said they haven’t received any calls from farmers yet, adding they are likely assessing their fields.