A Giroux-area farmer says compared to other parts of the province, he feels fortunate with how their crops are looking.

Lynn Plett is with Rumardale Holsteins Incorporated. It is a family farm, started by his father in 1966. Plett explains they are predominantly a dairy operation, milking 325 head of cattle. But they also farm about 1200 acres of crops.

Plett acknowledges this summer has definitely been a challenge for their crops due to the lack of rainfall.

(Corn field near Giroux)"But on the other hand, this pocket, this immediate area here we do feel quite blessed, quite fortunate compared to many other areas where we have had some timely rainfalls," says Plett. "We will have to see how the corn crop will finish up here in the next few weeks."

Plett says their crops have not been pushed to their potential, though they should be okay for the upcoming year.

Meanwhile, Plett says they are just wrapping up their third cut of hay. He says the crop looks decent but could have had more potential had there been more rain.

"We felt maybe by taking first and second crop a little bit earlier we maybe benefited on a third cut with some of that moisture that we did get to grow into the third crop," he says.

Plett says without additional rain, there is very little chance of a fourth cut. He notes they need to be mindful of the damage a fourth cut this year could do to next year's crop.

"Alfalfa is very sensitive to the timing of the cutting and over-wintering," he explains. "So that's always something that weighs on our mind as well, do you or don't you take a fourth cut if it's there."

Plett says there is definitely a hay shortage in this area, which is evident in the price of hay and the challenge in trying to find enough.

"I believe right now we have purchased a little bit of hay," he says. "With the corn crop looking actually very decent in this area and us having the acres to silage quite a bit of corn, we will have enough to carry us through to next year."