The record-setting snowfall in Weyburn and the area is both a blessing and a curse. It all depends on the perspective. For farmers in the Weyburn area, the moisture is welcome for many, but at the same time, it could put a bit of a delay on the start of the spring seeding season.  

Dale Paslawski farms north of Weyburn. He noted that in the past few years, April has been the usual time that he has gotten started in the field. “Two years ago I actually started seeding yellow peas on April 21st, which would be tomorrow,” Paslawski said during an interview with Discover Weyburn on Thursday afternoon. “Last year, I started seeding on the 24th of April – yellow peas – but I think it’s going to be May the first. I’m still staying quite optimistic.” 

On the other side of Weyburn is Garnet Hansen. He farms south of the city. While Paslawski is thinking he may be able to get out into the field in the next 10 to 14 days, Hansen feels it could be a little longer.  

“Single-digit highs and freezing some days, so that doesn’t bode well to get rid of it quick, and then we’ve got to dry it up too and then get the ground temperature up,” Hansen explained. “I’m thinking the month we start seeding in won’t start with an A. It will probably be May for sure and I would guess now it's going to move further in; it wouldn’t be the first week I would think.” 

The moisture though should be quite good. Paslawski noted that the snow we received over the winter has meant a lot of promise for conditions for the 2023 crop year.  

“The snowpack that we had put some excellent moisture into the ground; a lot of it actually soaked in which is what we want to see, and now with this extra snow here there might be some low-lying flooding concerns,” Paslawski added.  

Both men have been farming in the Weyburn area for close to 40 years. The amount of snow that fell thanks to the Colorado low was the most either one had seen in that span. The timing of it, though, could be rather fortuitous, as seeding hadn’t gotten underway yet. 

One part of farming operations that currently underway involve livestock producers.  

The biggest concern is the livestock producers that are having a few challenges right now; some are still calving,” Paslawski pointed out. “Our producers in the Weyburn area, a lot of them are my friends and they are excellent cattle and sheep producers and I know that they’ve got their calves in shelters and have put some bedding now.” 

For livestock producers, the issues come up with snow depths that could completely inundate a newborn calf. The mild temperatures will also mean the snow melts quickly, which causes a number of issues all unto itself.  

For Hansen, having to deal with ever-changing weather is just part of farming.  

“It’s not like it’s the first time that it's happened, but I would say this is the most sort of single event, snowfall, this time of year – heavy wet snow in terms of total precipitation – that I can remember.”