Southwest Saskatchewan drew the short end of the stick when it comes to the weather.

Shannon Chant, a Crops Extension Specialist based in Swift Current, says the temperature in that part of the province has been in the high 20’s to low 30’s since mid-May.

The crops have suffered from heat stress and are shorter than normal, and Chant said she wouldn’t be surprised if some farmers have started harvesting this week or next.

“I would expect some of the peas to go off, or maybe some lentils as well,” Chant said of what crops she expects to be harvested first in the west and southwest. Of the first crop to come off the field first, she expects pulses, then cereals, followed by canola, and mustard crops.

She noted moisture did come over the weekend in the Swift Current area, but it brought hail.

“I’ve heard of some spots that have some fairly significant damage from hail,” Chant said. “You can have a bit of regrowth but not in the time that it would – especially with heavy damage – wouldn’t significantly impact yield in harvest.”

Chant says there was no hail at her acreage north of Swift Current, but did say hail did fall in the City and at some of the research plots east of the community.

She knows this is a stressful time for farmers and encourages them to call the the Farm Stress Line toll free at 1-800-667-4442 for support, as well as the Do More Agriculture Foundation having a number of resources on their website.