Waiting for the weather
You likely haven’t seen that many tractors out on the fields of Lambton County and that’s not surprising to agriculture experts.
Kevin Marriott, Lambton County’s warden and a grain farmer in Enniskillen Township, says farmers are “definitely behind” in spring planting for this time of year.
Over the weekend, hot, humid weather turned into thunderstorms more than once. In some parts of Plympton-Wyoming pools of water could be seen lying on the fields hours later.
Marriott says that rain, the extra that is in the forecast this week, has farmers itching to get going.
Marriott says on May 21, farmers should have about half of their fields planted. Many are still in the first half.
Lambton Federation of Agriculture Director Crispin Colvin says it’s a tough time.
“Many of the farmers are trying to beat the rain,” he said as the area has seen significant precipitation over the last few days.
If Lambton County gets too much rain, it can pound the ground and a crust develops over the soil where the seeds can’t get through.
Colvin has already seen where the corn is coming up in Middlesex County.
As for the prices farmers can expect for their yields, Colvin hasn’t even looked at that aspect.
And he says “it might be too early to tell” how crops are shaping up looking into the summer.
The winter wheat crop, Colvin says, could be interesting this year.
It started off quite good, but with the warmer temperatures last winter, the wheat went through a cycle of growing and then becoming dormant.
Traditionally there is snow cover over the winter wheat but that didn’t exist for much of the winter months.
Like many farmers, Colvin remains optimistic, saying how all of that will play out for yields will not be known until the winter wheat is taken off.
Marriott is hopeful for the winter wheat crop. He thinks it could be a good year.
Marriott says winter wheat is about 10 days ahead of where it should be this time of year.
, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Independent
