Despite the cool and dry conditions experienced so far, most crops are in good to excellent condition, Saskatchewan Agriculture reported for the week ending June 26. Across the province, 65 per cent of winter wheat, 54 per cent of fall rye, 70 per cent of spring wheat, 49 per cent of durum, 68 per cent of oats, 64 per cent of barley, 60 per cent of canola, 50 per cent of flax, 63 per cent of lentils, 61 per cent of soybean, 65 per cent of peas, 34 per cent of chickpeas and 26 per cent of mustard are in good to excellent condition. Approximately 87 per cent of fall cereals, 62 per cent of spring cereals, 55 per cent of oilseed crops and 67 per cent of pulses are at or ahead of their normal stage of development for this time of year.Â
Last year at this time, crops were advancing nicely and were in good to excellent condition overall. A year ago haying was underway with seven per cent of the hay crop cut and two per cent baled.
Precipitation across the province varied widely last week, ranging from negligible amounts to 57 mm in the Nipawin area. Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as six per cent surplus, 61 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and five per cent very short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as five per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Many areas, particularly in the south, are in need of rain to help crops, hay and pasture grow.
Frost was reported in some areas of the south and producers are assessing the damage. Haying is underway with four per cent of the hay crop cut and two per cent baled or ensiled. Haying is furthest advanced in the southwest where 11 per cent of the crop has been cut. Hay quality is rated as six per cent excellent, 50 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and 10 per cent poor. Quality is lowest in the southeast where 21 per cent of the hay is rated as poor due to less-than-ideal growing conditions during most of the spring.
SaskPower has received 29 reports of farm equipment coming in contact with power lines so far in June. There have been 168 incidents in 2017.
In southwestern Saskatchewan, strong winds and dry conditions have delayed crop, hay and pasture development in the region. Haying operations are underway, and 10 per cent of the crop has been cut and five per cent baled or ensiled. Hay quality is rated as four per cent excellent, 46 per cent good, 42 per cent fair and eight per cent poor. Due to cool and dry growing conditions, hay and pasture yields are expected to be less than normal.
Rainfall across the region ranged from minimal to 16 mm in the Swift Current area. The Moose Jaw area, which received 6 mm of rainfall this past week, holds the record of 120 mm for the greatest amount of precipitation in the south since April 1. Topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 29 per cent adequate, 57 per cent short and 14 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 20 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short, and 27 per cent very short.
The Rockglen and Shaunovan area crop districts report that 97 and 86 per cent of cropland, respectively, is short to very short topsoil moisture, and 97 and 94 per cent of hay land and pasture, respectively, are short to very short topsoil moisture. While most crops are in good-to-excellent condition and development is normal or ahead of schedule for this time of year, the unfavourable growing conditions have slowed down development in some areas. In the southwest, 42 per cent of the oilseeds, 44 per cent of the pulse crops, 35 per cent of spring cereals and 10 per cent of fall cereals are reported to be behind their normal stage of development for this time of the year. Producers are hoping for calmer and warm days to help invigorate crops, hay and pasture.
Crop damage in the southwest was attributed to dry conditions, wind and frost, while province-wide damage has been attributed to flooding, frost, wind and insects such as cutworms and alfalfa weevils as well as reported gopher damage.
