Ministry of Agriculture
Submitted
Crops continued to progress this week with the warm temperatures across the province. Canola is beginning to pod and wheat is beginning to flower in many areas. Dry conditions are impacting parts of the province and many producers are hoping for rain immediately.
Very little rain was received this week. The most rain was in the Dinsmore area, with 14 mm. A large decrease in soil moisture accompanied the warm weather this past week. Crop land topsoil moisture is currently 21 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture is currently 17 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 28 per cent very short.
Crops are either ahead or at normal stages of development for this time of year. Fall cereals are 31 per cent ahead and 66 per cent at normal stages of development. Spring cereals are 33 per cent ahead and 60 per cent at normal stages of development. Oilseeds are also 33 per cent ahead and 58 per cent at normal stages of development. Pulse crops are 28 per cent ahead and 67 per cent at normal stages of development.
Crops are generally in good to fair condition. Provincially, winter wheat and soybean crops are in the best condition, with 60 per cent of winter wheat in good condition and 67 per cent of soybean in good condition. Mustard and canary seed are the crops in the poorest condition. Thirty-five per cent of mustard and 21 per cent of canary seed is in very poor condition.
Producers have made swift and steady progress with haying this week. Fifty-one per cent of the first cut of hay has been baled or silaged, while 26 per cent is cut and 23 per cent is still standing. The quality of hay ranges from excellent to fair, with 59 per cent in good quality.
Crop damage this week comes from heat and moisture stress and grasshoppers. Producers are reminded to keep in mind economic thresholds when scouting for grasshoppers and to reach out to their local regional office if they have any questions.
Many producers are haying and monitoring their pastures now. With the heat, water quality is at the top of mind for many. If producers are concerned about the quality of their water source for livestock, they can bring in samples to their local regional office for testing.
The growing season is stressful time of year and producers are reminded to take all safety precautions in all the work they do. The Farm Stress Line is there to help by providing support for producers toll free at 1‑800‑667‑4442.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Warm conditions this past week allowed crops to advance in the northeast region. Producers are concerned about soil moisture and are hoping for rain soon to prevent crop quality from diminishing.
Trace amounts of rain was received in the northeast region this week. Eight mm was received was recorded in the Lake Lenore region. Soil moisture in the northeast diminished this week and both cropland and hay and pasture are short in topsoil moisture. Twenty-one per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 68 per cent is short and 11 per cent is very short. Fourteen per cent of hay and pasture land had adequate moisture, 70 per cent is short and 17 per cent is very short.
The majority of crops in the northeast are ahead of normal stages of development, with the most advanced being fall cereals at 70 per cent. Oilseeds are the least advanced and 54 per cent of the crop is within normal stages of development for this time of year. Crops are generally in good to fair condition in the region.
The first cut of hay is nearing completion for many producers. Regionally, 17 per cent of the crop is still standing, 32 per cent is cut and 51 per cent has been baled or silaged. The hay is of good quality.
Crop damage this week is primarily due to hot and dry conditions. Producers are busy with haying operations.
Northwestern Saskatchewan
Storms that moved through the northwest a few weeks ago have kept soil moisture high compared to the rest of the province. Producers in the northwest are hoping for some additional rains to help maintain moisture levels and prevent the crops from regressing.
The most rain recorded was four mm in the Medstead region. Topsoil moisture diminished this week compared to last week. In cropland, 50 per cent of topsoil has adequate moisture, 37 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short. In hay and pasture land, 36 per cent has adequate topsoil moisture, 47 per cent is short and 18 per cent is very short.
Crops in the northwest are mainly at normal stages of development for this time of year. Crop conditions range between excellent to fair. Fall rye is in the best condition, with 93 per cent of the crop in good condition and seven per cent in excellent condition. Barley crops are in the worst condition, with 10 per cent of the crop in poor condition.
Producers were delayed in haying progress last week but are now over halfway through the first cut of hay for the year. Currently, 46 per cent of the first cut of hay is still standing, 35 per cent has been cut and 19 per cent has been baled or silaged. Hay is generally rated good to fair quality.
Crop damage this week is due to grasshoppers and hot conditions. Many producers are hoping for rain soon. Producers are busy haying, scouting crops and spraying for grasshoppers.
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