Strong crop for Sask. farmer but ‘prices are just in the toilet’

It sounds like it’s been a pretty good year — so far — for farmers in southeast Saskatchewan.

Lee Stanley is a farmer near Gainsborough and was on the Greg Morgan Morning Show.

He said a plethora of spring rain played a key role in the growth of his crops.

“We’ve been pretty fortunate this year, other than some hail storms that did some damage to some guys, but crops are looking pretty, pretty darn good down this corner,” Stanley said.

Many advanced crops around Saskatchewan are under duress from the sweltering, dry heat, with the potential for yields to decline.

Any moisture received wouldn’t help advanced crops at this stage, but it could help with head and pod filling on later-seeded crops.

Stanley said it has been a notable year for him as a farmer.

“One of the best I’ve had; this is my 36th year farming. This country will really produce if it gets the rain,” Stanley said.

Read More:

• Extreme heat has some Saskatchewan producers concerned
• On the moo-ve: almost 30 cows and a bull on the run near Allan, Sk.
• Ag in Motion: Are drones the future of farming?

However, he said low crop prices are putting a damper on the strong growing season.

“That’s taking the shine off of a really good crop here right now because our prices are just in the toilet. Probably from two years ago, we’re looking at 50 per cent of what we were receiving,” said Stanley.

With that, Stanley said it is frustrating when things don’t work in their favour.

“It seems like you can do everything right and get Mother Nature to cooperate with you and then the prices go down,” Stanley said.