The president of the Kent Federation of Agriculture says crop conditions have been a "mixed bag" in Chatham-Kent and across the province.
"The conditions vary greatly across Chatham-Kent. Some areas are struggling because of lack of rainfall, others have had reasonable rainfall, and others have had earlier hail damage, which is still causing concern in the fields," says KFA President Ron Faubert.
After an intense storm blew through the Michell's Bay area in early July, crops faced irreversible damage. Faubert says this damage, combined with poor weather conditions, could result in a late harvest.
"The hail-struck beans and corn are struggling, same with the seedcorn. They need as much time as possible to recoup and mature before the frost sets in. If they haven't started the seed corn, they should be starting it very shortly because some of the fields have dried up, especially the ones with hail damage," explains Faubert.
Faubert says these types of varying conditions are actually quite common and happen almost every year. He adds that he was recently in Guelph for some meetings and talked to many Ontario farmers who say conditions are quite similar throughout the province.
He says some farmers haven't been able to harvest their wheat or first cutting of hay yet because the fields have been too wet.