Farmers in the southeast are reeling after a fierce storm battered the region on Thursday night, threatening the recently harvested crops. Reg Friesen, owner of Prairie Sky Crop Solutions near Niverville, expressed his concerns over significant crop damage.

While the storm’s fury was localized, areas took the brunt of hefty downpours. For instance, St. Pierre saw an inch of rain, but places south of Niverville recorded an astonishing three inches, with some areas hitting five inches! Friesen remarked, "This is a lot of water; our drainage canals and road ditches are overflowing – it’s quite something!"

With much of the wheat and canola already harvested, Friday morning revealed a grim scene: canola swaths lying submerged in water. Friesen lamented, "Crops underwater typically spell disaster. After waterlogging, they are often lost, especially in low-lying areas. But if water drains quickly, we might salvage something."

The canola crop appears to have suffered the most from the deluge. While canola can tolerate some moisture, excess water is usually fatal. He cautioned that wheat might become bleached, diminishing its quality. Yet, he held some hope; with favorable weather, damage to cereals might be less severe.

Friesen noted that unharvested wheat is standing in water, but thankfully not in swaths. He pointed out that due to the localized nature of the storm, water levels might recede faster than expected.

However, there's a catch: the neighboring town of Steinbach was hit hard, meaning the accumulated water would flow right through the affected areas.

Looking ahead, farmers are bracing for soybean harvest in about two weeks. Friesen explained the pressing challenges of harvesting wet ground, where mud becomes a clumsy adversary during operations. "Rain can be beneficial for crops, but a sudden downpour of several inches is far from ideal," he noted.

On a brighter note, the harvest so far has unveiled extraordinary yields in the region. Friesen excitedly reported hearing of exceptional yields in canola, wheat, and oats. Optimism remains regarding the soybean harvest, and he noted, "Corn looks fantastic!"