Winter temperatures and precipitation, for the most part have been above seasonal which could raise concern for some farmers, however, specialists are saying there is plenty of time left.

Brent Flaten, crop extension specialist at the Agriculture Knowledge Centre said the early snowfall in September may have been beneficial for some producers as it was able to put moisture in soil before the ground froze up.

Those who may be concerned about the recent forecasts not showing an abundance of snow, Flaten said at this point, only those who are growing winter wheat may be at risk. He explained that without snow cover, if we do experience frigid temperatures, the extreme cold could damage those specific crops.

As for others, Flaten stated that there are still quite a few months left for snow to accumulate to either protect crops or to increase the moisture content in the ground. He said as long as we get some measurable snowfall by the end of March, most producers should be in good standings.

This past weekend, once again, had the west central region experiencing warm winter weather with the thermometer hovering around zero degrees.