For the Period July 7 to July 13, 2015

One year ago Twenty-five per cent of the 2014 hay crop had been cut and 15 per cent had been baled or put into silage. Warm weather was helping crops recover from flooding stress.

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SK Crop Development - July 13   % Ahead % Normal % Behind Fall Cereals 34 59 7 Spring Cereals 17 62 21 Oilseeds 13 60 27 Pulse Crops 22 58 20

Livestock producers now have 32 per cent of the hay crop cut and 38 per cent baled or put into silage, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.

Hay quality is rated as four per cent excellent, 48 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and 14 per cent poor. Concerns about a potential hay shortage continue, as many hay swaths are significantly smaller than normal and pasture growth has been limited.

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 over the weekend has helped alleviate moisture stress issues in some areas; however, more rain will be needed to help crops fill. Some areas received only small amounts of rainfall while others reported several inches. Topsoil moisture conditions have slightly improved in much of the province. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as one per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 19 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 33 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 28 per cent very short.

Fifty-nine per cent of fall cereals, 62 per cent of spring cereals, 60 per cent of oilseeds and 58 per cent of 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. Lack of moisture and insects such as grasshoppers and wheat midge 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)

Despite lack of growth in many areas, haying continues. Livestock producers now have 30 per cent of the hay crop cut and 44 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality at this time is rated as four per cent excellent, 67 per cent good, 25 per cent fair and four per cent poor. Hay swaths are significantly smaller than normal and many producers are hoping that rain is received soon so that a second cut may be possible.  

Rainfall over the weekend was welcome, although showers were spotty in most areas. The Grenfell area reported 56 mm of rainfall, bringing its total received since April 1 to 167 mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions have changed very little despite the rainfall, and they continue to deteriorate due to hot and dry weather. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as one per cent surplus, 43 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 20 per cent very short. Seventy-three per cent of cropland and 74 per cent of hay land and pasture in Crop District 3ASE are very short topsoil moisture at this time. Rain is needed to help crops fill, although in some cases staging is too advanced and moisture may not help.  

Crop development varies in the region but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Some producers are spraying their healthier-looking crops for diseases and insects . The majority of crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture and insects such as grasshoppers and wheat midge.

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.

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)

Haying continues in the region as 34 per cent of the hay crop has been cut and 51 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality at this time is rated as 42 per cent good, 42 per cent fair and 16 per cent poor. Hay swaths are significantly smaller than normal and many producers are hoping that rain is received soon so that a second cut may be possible.

Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to 48 mm in the Spring Valley area. Since April 1, the Eastend area has received 145 mm of rainfall, the most for the region. Topsoil moisture conditions have improved slightly, although more rain is needed to help crops fill.   

Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 25 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 36 per cent very short, while hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 19 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 46 per cent very short. Crop District 4B is reporting that 80 per cent of cropland and 77 per cent of hay land and pasture are very short topsoil moisture at this time.

Crop development varies in the region but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Some producers are spraying their healthier-looking crops for diseases and insects . The majority of crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture, wind and insects such as grasshoppers and wheat midge.

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.

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 now have 33 per cent of the hay crop cut and 24 per cent baled or put into silage. Feed shortages remain a concern in the region as hay yields are expected to be well below average. Hay quality at this time is rated as three per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 41 per cent fair and nine per cent poor.

Varying amounts of rainfall fell in the region, helping to alleviate moisture stress in some areas. The Esterhazy area reported 61 mm of rainfall this past week while the Craik area has received 181 mm of rain since April 1. This is the greatest amount for both the region and the province.

Topsoil moisture conditions have slightly improved, although additional rain will be needed to help crops fill and pastures grow. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as five per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent excellent, 56 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and four per cent very short.

The majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition and crop development varies throughout the region. Some producers are spraying their healthier-looking crops for diseases and insects . Most crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture, wind, hail and localized flooding.

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.

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 areas)

Haying continues in the region as 32 per cent of the hay crop has now been cut and 43 per cent 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. Hay quality at this time is rated as four per cent excellent, 25 per cent good, 42 per cent fair and 29 per cent poor.

Varying amounts of rainfall were received across the region, ranging from trace amounts to 47 mm in the Eyebrow area. Since April 1, the Smiley area has recorded 143 mm of rainfall, the greatest amount for the region.

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved slightly, although additional rain is needed soon to help pastures grow and crops fill. Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land are rated as 31 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 29 per cent very short. Topsoil moisture conditions on hay land and pasture are rated as 22 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 40 per cent very short. Crop District 7B is reporting that 43 per cent of cropland acres and 51 per cent of hay land and pasture acres are very short topsoil moisture at this time.

Crop development varies through the region but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Some producers are spraying for diseases and insects as time permits. The majority of crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture, hail and insects such as grasshoppers, aphids and wheat midge.

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.

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)

Twenty-nine per cent of the hay crop has now been cut and 26 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as 14 per cent excellent, 64 per cent good and 21 per cent fair. Recent rain has helped both hay land and pastures grow, although feed shortages remain a concern in the region.

Rain this past week ranged from trace amounts to 47 mm in the Humboldt area. Humboldt has received the greatest amount of rainfall in the region since April 1 (168 mm).

Topsoil moisture conditions have deteriorated slightly in the region. Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 69 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 56 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.

Crop development varies through the region but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Many producers are spraying for diseases such as sclerotinia and fusarium head blight as time permits. The majority of crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture, wind and hail.

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.

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

Haying is progressing quickly in the area as 28 per cent of the hay has been cut and 21 per cent has been baled or put into silage. Hay quality at this time is rated as five per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 26 per cent fair and 21 per cent poor. Rainfall would be welcomed to help hay land and pasture grow in the region.  

Rainfall this past week ranged from small amounts to 48 mm in the Speers area. Since April 1, the Duck Lake area has received 164 mm of rain, the greatest amount for the region.

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved since last week thanks to the recent rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 37 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 24 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 30 per cent very short. Crop District 9B is reporting that 23 per cent of cropland and 38 per cent of hay land and pasture are very short topsoil moisture at this time.

Crop development varies through the region but the majority of crops are in poor-to-good condition. Some producers are spraying healthier-looking crops for diseases. The majority of crop damage this week was caused by lack of moisture, wind and insects such as grasshoppers. 

Farmers are busy controlling pests and cutting hay.