Warm, dry weather could harm Sask. crop yields

Saskatchewan farmers need rain, and they need it soon.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture crop specialist Shannon Friesen said the hot weather is causing some crops to flower too early.

She said that could really harm yields, especially if the flowering plants end up sitting without rain.

“It can actually cause what we call ‘bloom blast,’ or seed and pod abortion,” she said during an appearance on Gormley.

She said problem areas exist throughout the province but so far, the southwest seems to be the hardest-hit.

“Throughout the province there’s patches as well that are doing much better than others. But then a couple miles away you have some of the worst fields in the region,” she said.

Friesen said it may be too late for some farmers who were able to seed early. However, she said a good dose of rain in early July could still turn things around for many producers.

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