Fields of yellow: A promising start for canola crops

Canolacrops turned from green to yellow a little earlier this year.

With a mild winter and early spring, farmers started seeding sooner than normal this year. It is why we are seeing the onset of flowering already.

Crops across Saskatchewan

The prime weather conditions this year havebeen ideal growing conditions for thecanolacrop in particular, according toShannonFriesen, the regional crop specialist for the Ministry of Agriculture.

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"We've heard many reports that crops are actually anywhere from a week to two weeks ahead of schedule," said Friesen.

"Most of that is due to good moisture in the topsoil as well as nice, warm days."

FranckGroeneweg, acanolafarmer and owner of Green Atlantic Farms, said he was able to start seeding at the end of April.

"The weather was quite conducive to do a lot of acres right away, and we had some moisture as well to get the crop germinated properly," said Groeneweg.

"Cautiously optimistic"

Despite the good start to the year, those in agriculture say they are cautiously optimisticabout thecanolacrops.

"Never count your chickens before they hatch, but it's looking good," saidGroeneweg.

"We have to be cautious because the year is only half way done right now, so there's a lot of things that could go wrong to derail a good crop," said ClintonJurke, agronomy director with theCanolaCouncil of Canada.

While the moisture and temperatures have been good for the floweringcanolacrop,Jurkesaid that, in excess, those conditions could pose a problem.

"With really good growing conditions like this, it's kind of the same conditions thatcanoladiseases like a lot," saidJurke.

The same thing goes for all crops across Saskatchewan.

"With frequent rain showers,that also tends to bring a lot of high humidity, which also helps to spread diseases," saidFriesen.

She said that the dampness of top of the soil combined with a humid canopy is the ideal condition for diseases to spread.

"It's a little bit like a bathroom that stays wet all the time,"saidGroeneweg.

"If we don't clean it up, they'll just get more moldy and more moldy."

Groenewegalso said that no farmerlikes to spray, but when it comes down to it, they'll do what needs to be done to protect their crop.

Heavy rainstorms with hail also pose a problem for farmers, andJurkesaid the farmers call that "the great white combine".

"It may look very good right now, but all it takes is five minutes of hail and that five minutes over eightweeks can mean a wreck," saidGroeneweg.

Early harvest

With the early start to the season,Groeneweghopes that he can harvest in August.

"The days are longer and it's usually a bit dryer, versus starting in September when days are starting to get shorter and wetter, and it's harder to get it done later on."

"I'm a farmer, I'm optimistic all the time," saidGroeneweg. "We just have to do our best, we do our best until it comes in, and sometimes it doesn't."