By Bruce Cochrane.
Saskatchewan Agriculture reports crop development across the province is running ahead of normal.
Saskatchewan Agriculture released its weekly Crop Report yesterday for the period from June 14 to 20.
Daphne Cruise, a cropping management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture. reports, with the exception of a few green feed and silage crops that still may be seeded, most producers have indicated seeding operations have completed and they are starting to move toward in crop herbicide applications and in some cases looking at fungicide applications over the next couple of weeks.
Daphne Cruise-Saskatchewan Agriculture:
Crop development looks quite good for this time of year.
Most of the crops are in normal stage of development and in some cases above normal, particularly when it comes to the pulse crops, lentils and peas in particular.
Top soil moisture conditions are rated as 6 percent surplus, 86 percent adequate and 8 percent short on cropland.
When we look at hay and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 3 percent surplus, 86 percent adequate and 11 percent short.
For the most part we've been getting fairly frequent rains, almost weekly through a lot of the province so that has kept our moisture situation quite good for this time of year.
It looks like, as far as the growing conditions go, many producers have indicated that we're earlier especially compared to last year in crop staging.
Things are starting to head out a bit earlier, flower a little bit earlier and also the hay crop is also starting to come in earlier to.
We're getting reports of producers starting to cut hay.
In lots of cases many of our producers don't start cutting until the first part of July.
With the warm temperatures, the humidity and the frequent rain, I think that's what really has brought this crop along and has continued to boost growth in many areas of the province.
Cruise says, with the abundant humidity, the heat and frequent rain showers, producers are now concentrating on scouting for any disease or insect infestations.
Source: Farmscape