Haying continues to advance in the province as livestock producers now have 67 per cent of the hay crop baled or put into silage. An additional 14 per cent is cut and ready for baling, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report. Hay quality is currently rated as two per cent excellent, 46 per cent good, 44 per cent fair and eight per cent poor.
The Ministry of Agriculture has a Forage, Feed and Custom Service listing for producers to advertise and source feed products. It is available at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing.
Topsoil moisture conditions have greatly improved in much of the province, thanks to heavy rains early in the week. Rainfall ranged from small amounts to well over four inches in some areas. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as seven per cent surplus, 62 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 50 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.
Crops are ripening quickly, and the majority remains in poor-to-good condition. Harvest is just beginning in some parts of the province, with pulses being desiccated and some winter cereal and pulse crops being combined. Wind, hail, localized flooding and lack of rain have caused some crop damage this week.
Farmers are busy haying and getting ready for harvest. Â
Follow the 2015 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
