Saskatchewan crops remain under stress amid the lack of rain, strong winds and even frost in some cases, according to the latest weekly crop report.
Some rain did fall in the province this past week, with the highest amount reported in the Spruce Home and Rhein areas at 32 mm. However, most farmers need more rain, especially in the southern and west-central regions of the province, where it is needed to sustain crop and pasture growth, the report said.
Many areas of the province also experienced strong dry winds this past week, resulting in crop damage, rapidly drying soils and delayed herbicide application. Delayed herbicide applications have allowed weeds to establish, which has resulted in many areas moving past the point of effectively controlling them, the report noted.
Cropland topsoil moisture across the province was rated at 2% surplus, 56% adequate, 36% short and 6% very short as of Monday, versus 2% surplus, 72% adequate, 23% short and 3% very short a week earlier.
There have also been isolated reports of frost, mainly in the central and northern regions; the report said. Damage is not yet known, but the crop of most concern is canola. There have also been reports of damage from flea beetle, cutworms, gophers and root rot diseases.
Crop development is normal for this time of year in most areas, with oilseed crops reported as behind other crops. Provincially, 62% of the fall cereals, 81% of the spring cereals, 70% of the oilseed crops and 81% of the pulse crops are at a normal stage of development for this time of year.
Southeast:
There was minimal rainfall in the southeast region this week, ranging from nil to eight mm in the Kisbey area. The Whitewood and Weyburn areas received four mm while the Radville and Carnduff areas received three mm. Crop land topsoil moisture is rated as 78 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Minimal rainfall this spring and cool temperatures at night have resulted in delayed growth, especially in hay and pasture land. Farmers have indicated that they may have a reduced hay yields and that their first cut may be delayed due to slow growth. Many are hoping for rain to help with crop, hay and pasture development.
Regionally, 54 per cent of the fall cereals, 82 per cent of the spring cereals, 80 per cent of the oilseed crops and 82 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Thirty-eight per cent of the fall cereals, 14 per cent of the spring cereals,17 per cent of the oilseed crops and 10 per cent of the pulse crops are behind in crop development.
The wind quit blowing for most of the week, which allowed farmers to make progress spraying for weeds and insect pests such as flea beetle and cutworm. Across the region gophers have become a noticeable problem in both pasture and crop land with moderately sized areas impacted; farmers will be busy trying to keep the gopher population to a manageable size.
Southwest:
Most of the region did not receive rainfall this week. The Hazenmore area received the highest amount of rain in the region this week with five mm, the Big Beaver area reported four mm, the Rockglen area three mm and the Tyner area two mm. More rain is urgently needed to reduce the stress caused by extremely dry conditions on both annual crops, hay land and pastures.
Topsoil moisture in the region was reduced greatly this past week due to high winds and very hot temperatures drying out the topsoil, especially during the beginning on the week. Crop land topsoil moisture is rated as 35 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and twelve per cent very short.
Most of the crops in the region have been growing slowly, especially in areas that did not receive sufficient amounts of rain. Farmers who did receive rain are reporting that the moisture did not stay around long and their soils rapidly dried out. The first cut of hay might be delayed or the yield may be reduced especially in older stands and in areas that did not receive the recent moisture.
Regionally, 67 per cent of the fall cereals, 87 per cent of the spring cereals, 80 per cent of the oilseed crops and 80 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Twenty-six per cent of the fall cereals, 12 per cent of the spring cereals, 20 per cent of the oilseed crops and 17 per cent of the pulse crops are behind in crop development.
Farmers are busy spraying herbicides and insecticides, prepping haying equipment and assessing damage from frost and gophers.
East-Central:
The region did not receive much rain this week except for north-east of Yorkton which saw 32 mm around the Rhein area. The Rama area reported 8 mm, the Kenaston and Ituna areas 7 mm and the Humboldt area 5 mm. With the exception of the Rhein area, not enough rain was received to make a positive change to the soil moisture conditions in the region.
Moisture conditions regionally have slightly decreased over the past week. Crop land topsoil moisture is rated as 55 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Due to the absence of good general rains, many producers indicated that hay and pasture growth has been affected by the minimal soil moisture. Cool temperatures in the early spring into summer have also slowed crop, hay and pasture development. Most of the region, especially areas that did not receive substantial rain, are hoping for less wind, more precipitation and warmer temperatures to support later-seeded crops and improve pasture conditions.
Regionally, 61 per cent of the fall cereals, 80 per cent of the spring cereals, 65 per cent of the oilseed crops and 90 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. One per cent of the fall cereals, 16 per cent of the spring cereals, 32 per cent of the oilseed crops and 17 per cent of the pulse crops are behind in crop development.
Farmers are busy spraying herbicides and insecticides, and scouting for insects and disease. Areas that had been damaged by flea beetles are now reseeded and will hopefully catch up to the rest of the crop quickly. There are reports of minor to severe damage on canola due to frost over the weekend.
West-Central:
Most of the west-central region received a small amount of rainfall this week. The Macklin area received the highest amount of rainfall in the region with 13 mm.
Moisture conditions continue to drop due to high winds and hot day time temperatures. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 50 per cent adequate and 45 per cent short and five per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 40 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.
The wind did not cease for most of the week in most areas of the region and farmers were not able to spray very much. Crop development is between behind and normal due to the increasingly dry conditions. In some areas, crops have begun to rapidly mature in response to the unfavourable growing conditions.
Regionally, 58 per cent of the fall cereals, 71 per cent of the spring cereals, 58 per cent of the oilseed crops and 74 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Nineteen per cent of the fall cereals, 25 per cent of the spring cereals, 41 per cent of the oilseed crops and 23 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stage of development for this time of year.
Farmers are busy spraying, picking rocks, assessing crop damage and getting ready for haying. Farmers have also indicated that they have been scouting for disease and may spray fungicides if warranted.
Northeast:
Most areas of the northeast region received rainfall this past week. Most of the rain was welcome, but farmers in some areas did report that they did not receive enough to improve the moisture conditions of their soils. Areas around Spruce Home received the highest amount of rain in the region this week, with some crop reporters receiving 32 mm. The Garrick area received 15 mm, the Melfort area 10 mm, the Nipawin and Arborfield areas eight mm and the Vonda area five mm.
Moisture conditions have slightly decreased this week, with less land rated as adequate and more rated as short or very short for moisture. Crop land topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Most of the crops in the northeast are behind to normal in their development stage. The cool temperatures in spring have slowed down growth in many areas. Warm temperatures and sunshine are desired to help speed up crop development.
Regionally, 68 per cent of the fall cereals,79 per cent of the spring cereals, 65 per cent of the oilseed crops and 83 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Fourteen per cent of the fall cereals, 14 per cent of the spring cereals, 30 per cent of the oilseed crops and nine per cent of the pulse crops are behind in crop development.
Farmers are busy in-crop spraying, moving cattle out to pasture and starting to think about haying. There were reports of hard frost at the end of the week and crop damage is expected to be severe in some areas. Flea beetles were also an issue in the region, causing damage to newly-emerged canola that had just been reseeded.
Northwest:
There were scattered showers throughout the northwest region this week, with rainfall ranging from nil to 21 mm in the Barthel area. The Turtleford and Meadow Lake areas received 14 mm, the Mayfair area 12 mm and the Hafford, Speers and St. Walburg areas eight mm.
Due to reduced rainfall this past week, moisture conditions have decreased with less land being rated as surplus and more being rated as short. Crop land topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate and 21 per cent short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Development of crops, hay and pasture in the northwest had been slow in previous weeks due to the cool temperatures, high winds and increasingly dry conditions. Now that some moisture and warmer temperatures have been received crops are growing quickly.
Regionally, 87 per cent of the spring cereals, 79 per cent of the oilseed crops and 91 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Ten per cent of the spring cereals, 18 per cent of the oilseed crops and seven per cent of the pulse crops are behind schedule in their development.
Farmers are busy spraying herbicides when able and assessing damage in canola fields that experienced frost over the past week.
Click here to see more...