Saskatchewan·Point of View

'Looking not that good at all': Regina area farmer hopes for rain

The driest May since 1971 has meant problems for farmers near Regina.

Area had driest May since 1971

The dry conditions were welcome by farmer Lee Moats but now he's hoping for rain. (Paul Dornstauder/CBC)

Lee Moats said a dry May was a welcome change from some of the moist conditions of previous years — at first.

His opinion changed as the dry conditions persisted throughout the month, which culminated in the driest May since 1971 for the Regina area.

​Moats said the dry weather has posed a problem for his crops as heading time approaches. 

He farms a rotation of canola, lentils, winter wheat and fall rye. As far as canola goes, there isn't much in the ground. 

"It's looking not that good at all," Moats said.

"For the spring cereals and spring crops, a rainfall now would be very timely."

Moats expects his winter crops to continue to deteriorate and his spring crops be in the same situation if rain clouds don't roll in.

'The dry has been welcomed'

Ron Hetland, who farms near Spalding, Sask., said the dry weather has been a blessing due to the excessive wetness of yesteryear.

"There are still people that are actually doing a bit of combining around us, at least in the last couple days," Hetland said. "The dry has been welcomed — at least to get our crop in."

Hetland said he is still seeding and the dry will be welcome for a couple of weeks more.

With files from CBC Radio's The Morning Edition