Farmers in Steinbach and area are reflecting on the 2017 crop year as 'challenging'. Ray Laing of Laingspring Farms, just northeast of Steinbach, says they ended up with some good crops but it wasn't easy.

"Being as we're in dairy, forage is a big part of our operation and we started off the year with a lot of winterkill in the alfalfa and we had to do some re-seeding and also seeded some more alfalfa. The green feed that we put in turned out quite well, so that will carry us through the year alright."

Laing adds their silage corn was very good however soybeans were a bit of a disaster and the grain corn yield was below average although the quality was good.

Ed Peters of Henervic Farms, west of Steinbach, says the harvest got off to a great start with excellent wheat and canola crops but not so for soybeans and grain corn.

"No, not for the soybeans and corn, we'll be looking forward to next year for those two."

He adds, overall, 2017 will go down as a below average year.

Many farmers are reporting soybean and corn yields were down about 50 per cent this year, especially in areas south of Highway #52.

Marc Hutlet of Marc Hutlet Seeds in Ste. Anne says that 2017 will be remembered as being quite variable.

"A spectacular year for cereals, canola and sunflowers. Those three were highlights. But disappointing on the later season crops overall where there was just not enough water (rain). But the front end crops, cereals and canola really brought the overall farm income back into a good position."