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Vol. 15, No. 36, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020 www.LamontLeader.com
Warm weather lets farmers on fields but doesn’t provide crop relief
A collection of cows spend a lazy holiday Monday cooling off in the shade of some trees on range road 205 near Bruderheim, Aug. 3.
Producers need more warm weather, but back on fields at least for now - Eleniak BY JOHN MATHER While the warm weather of the past week has enabled some Lamont County area farmers onto some fields, Lamont Agricultural Fieldman Terry Eleniak states most of the damage has been done. “The warm weather has allowed some of the sloughs and wet areas to dry out somewhat,” he said. “And it
will allow the producers to go a little further than they have before. But it’s still going to take a quite a bit to dry those areas up.” He stated some people have been cutting, raking and baling, but producers are leaving the low areas alone. He said they don’t want to get ruts in those low areas because they would have to deal with them for years down
the road. “What’s happening is any of the crops that were in affected areas where there was pooling of the water… those crops have deteriorated to nothing or next to nothing,” said Eleniak. “With the heat that’s happening now, you won’t have any regrowth. In reality, it’s nice we’re getting the heat because it will allow the producers to
gain access to their fields.” He said crops like canola won’t be taken off the fields until late September or October, but it’s hard to predict exactly when harvest may take place. “In essence we’re about a week behind in our 10 year average,” he said.