Sask. harvest hampered by blast of snow

Just when it looked like Rob Danychuk was going to be cashing in on this year's crop, the snow started to fall. Now the west-central Sask.farmer is sitting idle, hoping the snow melts quickly.

"You can't let it bother you too much orit'll kill you," said Danychuk. "We're about 50 per cent done."

Twentycentimetres of snow fell on Danychuk's crop over this past week. He said there arestill about 1,800 hectares of canola, wheat and lentils in the field.

"There's a big area here that's been white for three days and it looks like it'll be white for the next three days," Danychuk said.

Danychuk estimates it'll take more than two weeks to get everything off the field. He's now considering purchasing another combine to help speed up the process.

"We always think Halloween, Oct.31, is when it's going to snow and any days after that are a bonus."

There's also a trend developing over the last number of years in west-central Saskatchewan. Danychuk said it's been a lot wetter, which has helped convince a number of farmers to purchasegrain drying equipment in the area.

"A smaller system, not including the bins, you're probably at a starting price of $75,000 and some of our neighbours tip the scale at half a million dollars," said Danychuk.

According to Thursday's crop report, around 80 per cent of the crop was in the bin across the province. That number is slightly behind the five-year average of 86 per cent combined.

"You look at the crop reports, it doesn't showbut I know there are some really big farms with a lot of acres left," said Danychuk.

The snow isn't the first significant precipitation farmers are having to contend with this harvest. The province said the Hazenmore area saw 91 millimetres of rain over the last two weeks. Redvers and Tantallon reported 76 millimetres over the same period.

Strong winds and flooding have damaged crops, resulting in yield and quality loss. Yield estimates remain average to above average for most crops.

Danychuk said he had a "beautiful" canola crop this year and just barely started harvesting it. That's his main focus right now.

"Nevermind the mice, deer and elk getting into it," he said. "And the snowmobilers like it too."

Thanksgiving weekend was normally spent out in the field for Danychuk. This year hisfamily will be spending it inside.

"We have an old school bus thatalso has tables in there. My wife Tammy has brought a lot of Thanksgiving dinners to the field."

Despite the snow, Danychuk is remaining optimistic.

"We're confident we're going to get the majority off."