Moisture conditions looked dry a month ago but timely rainfall in July has a pair of local farmers optimistic about their crops.
Dieter Frost operates a farm located just south of Olds, growing wheat, barley and canola. The amount of moisture he's seen has been near ideal.
"It's been just about the perfect amount but it won't tolerate much more rain before we start running into problems," Frost said.
Some of those problems would include flooding and drowning of crops, he said.
Alberta Agriculture's Moisture Situation Update for July 19 stated that most of the province's agricultural areas have now "seen at least near normal amounts of precipitation since the start of the Growing season."
Jim Bakken, who also grows wheat, barley and canola – but is located northeast of Olds – was also happy to see the rain.
"Got a little dry there but the rains came at the right time and we're looking good," Bakken said. "When the fields are flooded and there's water running out of gopher holes, that's too much rain. But we haven't seen that here."
What the two farmers are concerned about, and hoping to avoid, is hail. Both are projecting at least average yields but as Frost said, they'll know for sure once they start the combines.
When that time comes, he wants motorists to drive carefully.
"Everybody play safe out there. Look out for us farmers on the road. We're big and clumsy with limited visibility and we just need some respect when we're on the road."
"It's been just about the perfect amount but it won't tolerate much more rain before we start running into problems." DIETER FROST, farmer
