For the Period June 23 to 29, 2015

One year ago The majority of crops were behind normal stages of development due to cool and wet conditions. Parts of the east-central and southeastern regions received well over six inches of rain over a few days that flooded fields, roads and yards.

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SK Crop Development - June 29   % Ahead % Normal % Behind Fall Cereals 23 63 14 Spring Cereals 11 58 31 Oilseeds 8 52 40 Pulse Crops 10 59 31

Haying operations are underway in much of the province, despite a shortfall in plant growth and moisture, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.

Livestock producers now have 10 per cent of the hay crop cut and five per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as four per cent excellent, 41 per cent good, 24 per cent fair and 31 per cent poor. Many hay swaths are significantly smaller than normal and bales will be in short supply this year. Pasture conditions continue to decline due to the lack of rainfall.

The Ministry of Agriculture has a Forage, Feed and Custom Service listing for producers to advertise and source feed products. It is available at http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing   

Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to several inches in some southeastern areas. Topsoil moisture conditions are quickly deteriorating with the hot and dry temperatures. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 32 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 20 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 23 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 37 per cent very short.      

Crop development is advancing nicely in most of the province, although many crops in drier areas are short, thin and heading out and/or flowering earlier than normal. Sixty-three per cent of the fall cereals, 58 per cent of the spring cereals, 52 per cent of the oilseeds and 59 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Crop conditions vary throughout the province, but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Grasshoppers and lack of moisture have caused the most crop damage this week.  

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.

Southeastern Saskatchewan (Crop District 1 - Carnduff, Estevan, Redvers, Moosomin and Kipling areas; Crop District 2 - Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina and Qu'Appelle areas; Crop District 3ASE - Radville and Lake Alma areas)

Haying has slowly begun in the region. Many producers have indicated that there is not much hay to cut and bales will be in short supply. In some cases, the hay may yield only about one-third or one-quarter of what it yielded last year. Some producers continue to seed greenfeed crops. Twelve per cent of the hay crop has now been cut and nine per cent has been baled or put into silage. Hay quality at this time is rated as four per cent excellent, 54 per cent good, 19 per cent fair and 23 per cent poor.

Varying amounts of rainfall were received across the region, ranging from trace amounts to several inches in the Alameda area. Since April 1, the Alameda area has recorded 170 mm of rainfall, the greatest amount for both the region and the province.

Topsoil moisture conditions are quickly deteriorating due to the hot and dry temperatures. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as 52 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 48 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 18 per cent very short. Crop District 3ASE is reporting that 100 per cent of cropland,  hay land and pasture is very short topsoil moisture at this time. Rain is needed to help replenish topsoil moisture in the region; however, rain will not help some crops, hay or pasture develop as staging is too advanced.

Crop development varies through the region, but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Sixty-three per cent of the fall cereals, 59 per cent of the spring cereals, 50 per cent of the oilseeds and 55 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Some earlier-seeded crops have prematurely headed out and/or flowered due to moisture stress and stands remain short and thin. The majority of crop damage this week was caused by grasshoppers, hail, wind and lack of moisture. Hot temperatures have also damaged some flowering canola crops.  

Farmers are busy controlling pests, starting to cut hay in some areas and hoping for rain.

Southwestern Saskatchewan (Crop District 3ASW - Coronach, Assiniboia and Ogema areas; Crop District 3AN - Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach and Central Butte areas; Crop District 3B - Kyle, Swift Current , Shaunavon and Ponteix areas; Crop District 4 - Consul, Maple Creek and Leader areas)

Seventeen per cent of the hay crop has been cut and nine per cent has been baled or put into silage. Many producers have indicated that there is not much hay to cut and that bales will be in short supply this year. In some cases, the hay may yield only about one-third or one-quarter of what it yielded last year. Hay quality at this time is rated as 42 per cent good, 46 per cent fair and 12 per cent poor.

Very little rain fell last week, contributing to deteriorating topsoil moisture conditions. The Bengough area reported 12 mm of rain, while the Eyebrow area has received 97 mm of rain since April 1, the greatest amount for the region.  

Topsoil moisture conditions have significantly worsened since last week. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as seven per cent adequate, 58 per cent short and 35 per cent very short, while hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as four per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and 69 per cent very short. Crop District 4A is reporting that 49 per cent of cropland and 90 per cent of hay land and pasture is very short of topsoil moisture at this time, while CD 4B is reporting that 50 per cent of cropland and 100 per cent of hay land and pasture is very short topsoil moisture. Rain would be welcomed in the region; however, in some cases the rain would be too late as crop staging is too advanced.   

The majority of crops are in poor to good condition with varying crop stages present in fields. Fifty-five per cent of spring cereals and 59 per cent of winter cereals, oilseeds and pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Many earlier-seeded crops have prematurely headed out and/or flowered due to moisture stress, and stands remain short and thin. Most crop damage this week was caused by hail and lack of moisture. Some producers are spraying insecticides for grasshoppers and cabbage seedpod weevils.    

Farmers are busy controlling pests, starting to cut hay in some areas and hoping for rain.

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)

Haying is underway in the region. Six per cent has now been cut and one per cent has been baled or put into silage. Feed shortages remain a concern for some producers in the region and hay yields are expected to be well below average. Hay quality at this time is rated as 13 per cent excellent, 39 per cent good, 26 per cent fair and 22 per cent poor.

Much of the region received small amounts of rain, although it has not been enough to replenish topsoil moisture in many areas. The Bethune area received 25 mm of rainfall this past week, while the Bradwell area has received 115 mm of rain since April 1, the greatest amount for the region.

Topsoil moisture conditions continue to deteriorate in the majority of the region. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as one per cent surplus, 37 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 30 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Crop District 5B is reporting that 19 per cent of cropland acres and 20 per cent of hay land and pasture acres are very short topsoil moisture at this time. Rain is needed soon to help crops, hay and pasture develop.

Crop development varies in the region, but the majority of crops are in poor to good condition. Eighty-four per cent of the fall cereals, 63 per cent of the spring cereals, 51 per cent of the oilseeds and 76 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Many plant stands are thin, short and have begun to head out or flower. Lack of moisture and insects such as grasshoppers have caused the majority of crop damage this week. Hot temperatures have also caused some damage to flowering canola crops.   

Producers are busy controlling pests, beginning haying operations and hoping for rain.

West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B - Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas; Crop District 7A - Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major; CD 7B - Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar area)

Haying has begun in the region. Nine per cent of the hay crop has now been cut and three per cent has been baled or put into silage. Many producers have indicated that there is not much hay to bale and yields will be down significantly from previous years. Some producers continue to seed greenfeed crops. Hay quality at this time is rated as 17 per cent good, 11 per cent fair and 72 per cent poor. 

Despite small showers throughout the region, there has not been enough moisture to replenish the topsoil moisture in most areas. The Smiley area received 37 mm of rain this past week, while the Outlook area has received 115 mm of rainfall since April 1.

Topsoil moisture conditions have significantly worsened in the past week. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 14 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 38 per cent very short. Topsoil moisture conditions on hay land and pasture are rated as eight per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 50 per cent very short. Crop District 7A is reporting that 46 per cent of cropland acres are very short topsoil moisture at this time, while CD 7B is reporting that 69 per cent of hay land and pasture is very short topsoil moisture. Rain is needed in much of the region to help conditions improve; however, some crops, hay land and pasture will not likely benefit from the moisture as staging is too advanced.   

Crop conditions vary drastically across the region with most crops rated as very poor to good. Fifty-five per cent of fall cereals, 47 per cent of spring cereals, 44 per cent of oilseeds and 55 per cent of pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Many crops are thin, short and have prematurely headed out and/or flowered due to moisture stress. The majority of crop damage this week was due to lack of moisture.

Producers are busy with haying operations, controlling pests and hoping for rain.

Northeastern Saskatchewan (Crop District 8 - Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas; Crop District 9AE - Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas)

Recent rain has helped advance hay and field crops in the region; however, hot temperatures have damaged some flowering canola crops and additional rain will soon be needed to replenish topsoil moisture. Haying operations are underway. Six per cent of the hay has now been cut and three per cent has been baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as 100 per cent good. Some producers have indicated that yields will be significantly lower than normal.

Varying amounts of rain were received last week, ranging from trace amounts to 25 mm in the Arborfield area. The Kinistino area has received the greatest amount of rainfall in the region since April 1 (137 mm).

Topsoil moisture conditions have worsened in the last week for much of the region. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 70 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 71 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and three per cent very short.

Crop conditions vary drastically from poor to excellent, depending on how much moisture and crop damage has been received. Crop development is the furthest advanced in the province as 96 per cent of fall cereals, 71 per cent of spring cereals, 68 per cent of oilseeds and 82 per cent of pulses are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. The majority of crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture and insects such as grasshoppers.  

Farmers are busy controlling pests and beginning haying operations.

Northwestern Saskatchewan (Crop District 9AW - Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas; Crop District 9B - Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster aeas)

Lack of moisture has caused hay land, pasture and field crop conditions to decline. Haying operations have just begun with one per cent of the hay crop having been cut so far. Hay quality is currently rated as 18 per cent good, 18 per cent fair and 64 per cent poor. Many producers have indicated that yields will only be about one-third or one-quarter of what is normally expected and there will be a shortage of bales.

Very little rain fell in the region. The Glaslyn area reported 6 mm this past week. Since April 1, the Duck Lake area has received 120 mm of rainfall, the greatest amount for the region.   

Hot and dry temperatures continue to contribute to deteriorating topsoil moisture conditions.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent adequate, 74 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 10 per cent adequate, 58 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. Crop District 9B is reporting that 20 per cent of cropland acres and 47 per cent of hay land and pasture are very short topsoil moisture at this time. Rain is needed in the region to help replenish topsoil moisture, although it may be too late for some crops as they are now too advanced.

Crop development varies across the region but the majority of crops are in very poor to good condition. Fifty-six per cent of fall cereals, 55 per cent of spring cereals and 58 per cent of pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Sixty per cent of the oilseeds are behind normal stage of development for this time of year. Most crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture and grasshoppers.  

Farmers are busy controlling pests, beginning haying operations and hoping for rain.