Despite other businesses shutting their doors through the COVID-19 pandemic, grain companies are continuing to do business.

Kerry Olson, general manager of Parrish & Heimbecker Moose Jaw, said they are taking precautions against the virus, but most of their customers call before coming in anyways and they are still buying and moving grain.

“We've got some good progress with getting grain caught up and moved. We're showing a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel for catching up on that. We're moving grain, so that's number one for us,” he said.

This year he said they are expecting more of the same for seeding with mostly durum, wheat and canola being planted. In past years, they have been an imbalance of cereals or oilseeds, but he isn’t expecting it this year.

“Certainly it's been a decent year all and all, but it's just added into the mix with everything that's gone on since last fall with rainy weather out on the west coast kind of slowed things down for about three weeks and piled up vessels on us, the blockades. It's just another hurdle,” he said.

Olson said some producers have to finish harvest from last season, but those will mainly oilseed crops.

As for soil moisture, he said it is a little bit below average, but it is too early to write any crops off.