Hay producers in the area are thankful for the recent rains. They've been able to put together a decent crop - unlike last year.

"I think that this year is probably is close to twice the hay crop that we had last year," explained Mark Neuman, a local producer in the Frobisher area, "It will put us at probably about an average hay crop."

He added that he will likely see around 2,500 to 3,000 pounds an acre though producers in other areas will see well short of that. 

"It was quite stressed early on and it really held the production back. With all the late rain, it helped production at least get up to an average crop. With having near zero rain all spring and having in excess of 10-12 inches of rain for the month of June certainly brought together a hay crop. At least we have a hay crop to harvest, before the rain, it would have been quite limited. We would have had significantly less than last year if it hadn't rained."

He added that because of the rain, the crop is turning out to be average, but that is not the case throughout the province.

"We're quite fortunate in this little corner of the province to have that because certainly, you don't have to go very far west or very far east. I've talked to other producers who have less than half a bale an acre, maybe less than 1,000 pounds an acre of annual forage that they can harvest. So we've certainly been blessed in this area that we have a little extra."

"I think our local producers will have enough to get them through this year."

Neuman added that a second cut is always an option but it comes at the cost of next year's production.

"If you plan on taking a second cut because you actually need it or you can get a premium for the second cut hay, that certainly has to be weighed by the individual farms because next year's production will likely be affected, especially by taking a later second cut."