The dry, hot conditions that have led to problems for many producers across the southeast seemed to have side stepped Alameda producer Edgar Hammermeister.

"We've been pretty fortunate with getting some small but timely rains," Hammermeister said. "Along with a very good soil moisture to start the season off, the crops have come along quite well.

"The high heat that we had the last 3 weeks has certainly taken the bumper off of crops, but still a very good yield potential here. The canola will be interesting. It usually suffers badly under the high heat conditions, but thanks to new genetics they are helping the canola tolerate the stresses better than they use to."

He also spoke about the lack of concern thus far in regards to crop damage in his area.

"For the early seeded wheat and durum, everything should have pushed through ahead of any kind of wheat midge pressure. I do have some late seeded wheat that is just getting close to heading now. There were a fair number of wheat midge present so were going to have to take care of that."

"Anything that was seeded earlier shouldn't be a concern this year in the area. We have been very fortunate so far in regards with other insects."

Some producers in the southeast have only seen one third of the hay they did last year. Hammermeisters brother had concerns of his own as he began haying, but Edgar says he was pleasantly surprised after his initial thoughts.

"My brother was anxious about what the cut was going to be. He was surprised and it was better than expected when he was in the crop, and that's a localized circumstance. We have had a bit of moisture that has minimized the impact for us."

According to Hammermeister, you don't have to go very far north or west to hear that the concerns are getting quite bad.

"Acquaintances of mine South and West of Estevan have only had an inch and a half of moisture all growing season. It might be worth while to investigate the opportunity to grow some millet just to have some sort of feed source that they could cut. It has a very short growing season and it might be an option for cattlemen that are in dyer circumstances to the west."