Haying continues throughout the province with few rainfall delays this past week.
Livestock producers now have 15 per cent of hay crop cut and 75 per cent baled or put into silage.
Many producers across the province have finished their haying operations. Hay quality is rated as four per cent excellent, 40 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and 22 per cent poor.
Many farmers have indicated that hay yields are below normal this year, particularly in areas that received less rainfall in early summer and a second cut is extremely unlikely. Heat has accelerated the ripening and maturation of all crops across the province and some producers have begun harvesting. The estimated yields for many crops across the province is expected to be well below average. Any rain now won't increase yields but would have a positive effect next year.
Rainfall this past week varied throughout the province, ranging from none in many areas to 55 mm in areas around Indian Head and Neilburg.
The Lumsden area received 33 mm, the Langenburg area 30 mm and the Saltcoats area 24 mm. Above normal temperatures combined with a lack of substantial rainfall have caused topsoil moisture levels to continue to trend downward.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 58 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and 71 per cent very short. The prolonged drought conditions have rapidly deteriorated crop conditions and a majority of crops are rated as poor to fair.
All crops are well ahead of their normal developmental stages for this time of year and many are ripe enough to begin harvest. Some producers have started harvesting, while others are still assessing yields and determining if cutting and baling is the better option. Strong winds, drought stress, hail, heat and grasshoppers took their toll on crops this past week.
There is little producers can do at this point in the season to address these environmental factors out of their control.
Producers are busy finishing up haying, conducting yield assessments, harvesting or getting equipment and bins ready for harvest.
East-Central Saskatchewan:
• Crop District 5 – Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas
• Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas
Livestock producers across the region have made very good progress with their haying operations, 70 per cent of the hay crop has been baled or put into silage with another 20 per cent cut and waiting to be baled or put into silage.
Hay quality is currently rated as three per cent excellent, 41 per cent good, 31 per cent fair and 25 per cent poor. Rainfall in the region ranged from nil to 33 mm in the Lumsden area. The Langenburg area received 30 mm, the Saltcoats area 24, the Esterhazy and Yorkton areas 14 mm and the Preeceville area 10 mm. Topsoil moisture conditions have continued to deplete in the region.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 60 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and 75 per cent very short. District 6A is reporting that 94 per cent of the cropland and 98 per cent of the hay and pasture land is very short topsoil moisture at this time. Crop development continues to progress quickly this past week due to warm temperatures.
The majority of the crop in the region is rated as being in poor to good condition.
Most of the region is suffering under severe drought stress but there are pockets where more rainfall was received and the crops in these areas look slightly better. Most of the crop damage this past week was due to drought stress and wind. There have also been reports of damage from heavy localized rain and minor hail storm, which resulted in flattened crops.
Farmers are busy finishing up haying, conducting yield assessments, harvesting or getting equipment and bins ready for harvest.
West-Central Saskatchewan:
• Crop District 6B – Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas
• Crop District 7A – Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston and Major areas
• Crop District 7B – Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar areas
Haying is almost complete in the region with 86 per cent of the hay crop now baled or put into silage with a remaining 10 per cent that is cut and waiting to be baled or put into silage. Hay quality is rated as five per cent excellent, 32 per cent good, 47 per cent fair and 16 per cent poor.
Hay yield is much lower than average for the region and many producers have cut and baled poor grain crops in other to ensure they have enough feed going into the winter. Minimal rainfall was reported in many areas of the west-central region this past week with the Cando area receiving the most with 15 mm.
The Phippen area received 12 mm, the Rosetown, Marengo, and Kindersley areas all received three mm. The west central region has not received a significant rainfall in several weeks and the crops are struggling severely.
Topsoil moisture conditions have reduced in the region this past week with more land now being rated as short for moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 71 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and 75 per cent very short.
Crop District 6B is reporting that 74 per cent of the cropland and 76 per cent of the hay and pasture land is very short topsoil moisture at this time. The majority of crops in the west-central region are in poor-to-fair condition.
Producers have indicated that crops are doing poorly with many fields good for nothing besides green feed.
Some producers are prepping to harvest their barley and wheat fields and starting desiccate their pulses while other producers have started combing pea and lentil fields. Most of the crop damage this past week was due to localized wind and hail storms, drought and grasshoppers.
Producers are busy finishing up haying, conducting yield assessments, harvesting or getting equipment and bins ready for harvest.
Provincially, producers are reminded that in response to the feed shortage this year, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is doubling the Low Yield Appraisal threshold values for customers who salvage their cereal or pulse crops as feed, without negatively impacting future individual coverage. Customers are asked to contact their local SCIC office before they graze, bale or silage any damaged crops to discuss their options.
Additionally, the Government of Saskatchewan is making changes to temporarily increase the maximum funding a livestock producer can receive from the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) for dugouts, wells and pipelines for agricultural use. This change will be in effect for the April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022, time period. The maximum rebate for livestock producers during this time period will increase from $50,000 to $150,000.
The first $50,000 will be based on a 50-50 cost-share and the remaining $100,000 will be on a 70-30 government-producer cost-share. Producers can contact the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377 for more information.
We would like to also remind producers that the Farm Stress Line is available for support if you need it. It is a confidential service, available 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week, toll-free at 1-800-667-4442. Calls are answered by Mobile Crisis Services Regina, a non-profit, community-based agency and there is no call display. A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.
