By Joel van der Veen

DAVIDSON — The fall harvest has begun for some farmers in Davidson and district, with hopes that the rest will soon be able to follow.

Cory Jacob, a crops specialist working for the Saskatchewan Agriculture in Watrous, said the forecast is calling for average returns this year.

Some progress has been made on winter cereals, like winter wheat and fall rye, while dessication has begun on pulse crops like lentils and peas.

“If it stays nice and warm like this, it’s going to really bring the crops on,” Jacob said Thursday, adding that a couple of heavy rain events in the area over the past few weeks have brought moisture here to adequate levels.

Andrew Dougan, a grain sales representative for Richardson Pioneer in Davidson, said work had begun on bringing in malt barley, while farmers have also completed desiccation of peas and lentils and have begun combining those crops.

Winter wheat is also starting to come off, he said, adding that the quality of the pulse crops is looking good so far.

Alice Wilson, a contract scout for Crop Production Services in Strongfield, said last week it would be another week or 10 days before canola swathing begins in earnest in the district.

She noted that some swathing of barley had begun here. Meanwhile, farmers further south towards Tugaske who saw less rain in June and July have started combining on pulse crops.

For the full story, please see the Aug. 17 print edition of The Davidson Leader.