A crop of peas growing near Fairview. Photo by Erika Rolling.

By Curtis Galbraith

Agriculture

Heat hurting crops says Sexsmith producer

Jul 29, 2022 | 6:00 AM

The heat is taking a toll on Peace Region crops.

Sexsmith farmer and Alberta Wheat Commission chair Greg Sears says the crops were doing well until a couple of weeks ago.

“We’ve suffered with a lack of rain and now we are getting hit with the heat.”

“The canola has stopped flowering, as have the peas, I think. The cereals are starting to go backward, definitely suffering from (a) lack of moisture.”

Sears adds the crops need some rain now.

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“I don’t think we need two inches at this point, but we (would) certainly benefit from three-quarters of an inch or an inch that would help everything fill up and give us what’s there.”

Sears thinks this year’s crop should be “significantly better” than last year’s.

“I would say it’s maybe going to be slightly below average. It’s really hard to tell right now. It all depends on how well the canola and cereals fill with the lack of moisture.

Sears says farmers are more optimistic than last year but adds it is always “a little bit disappointing when we have a really good crop going into this time of year and then the rains stop, and we start to see our yield potential erode.”.

He adds he has not seen many grasshoppers but farmers will have to watch for diamondback moths.