Crop Report June 10, 2007

1 Year Ago
Provincial seeding progress was reported as 93 per cent complete, ranging from 99 per cent complete in the southwest to 81 per cent in the northeast.
Seeding and spraying operations were slowed due to rainy weather.
Flooding was the main source of crop damage.  Seeding of the 2007 crop is now 96 per cent complete, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report. 

The west central region continues to be furthest advanced at 99 per cent complete, and the northeast region continues to be furthest behind at 84 per cent complete.  A number of rural municipalities in the north eastern and east central areas of Saskatchewan reported 75 per cent or less of their crop has been seeded.  Some producers in these areas have stopped seeding, and will have more summerfallow acres than originally planned.

Across the province, spring cereal development was rated normal by 67 per cent of reporters, while 30 per cent rated development as being behind.  Oilseed development was rated normal by 59 per cent of reporters, while 39 per cent of reporters rated development as being behind.  Pulse crop development was rated normal by 76 per cent of reporters, while 19 per cent rated development as being behind normal.  Seventy-six per cent of reporters rate fall cereal development normal, while 16 per cent rated development as behind normal. 

Approximately 80 per cent of all crops were rated in good to excellent condition, with the exception of canola, which rated at 76 per cent, and sunflowers, which rated at 63 per cent in good to excellent condition. 

Flooding and gophers caused the most crop damage during the past week.  Other sources included frost, wind, drought, hail, insects (flea beetles, cut worms), and disease (root rot, tan spot, ascochytha blight).  Spraying for weed control is underway as weather conditions allow. 

South eastern Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 1, 2, & 3ase)

The past week saw some cool temperatures and showers in the southeast with precipitation amounts averaging 19 mm across the region.  Rainfall amounts ranged from an average low of 8 mm in Crop District (CD) 2b to an average high of 38 mm reported in CD 2a.  Over 50 mm was reported in the Kennedy and Weyburn areas.  Crop damage from flooding was reported in CDs 1b, 2a, and 3ase.  Wind damage was reported in the Gainsborough and Stoughton areas.  Dry conditions caused crop damage in the Benson area.     

Seeding progress is reported as 97% complete across the southeast.  Seeding ranges from 95% complete in CDs 1b and 2a, to 99% complete in CD 2b.  There are acres in CD 1b that will not be seeded because it is too wet and getting late. 

Crop reporters indicate that 87% of the crop land has adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 90% last week.  Slightly more crop land is in a surplus topsoil moisture situation and the amount of land in a short topsoil moisture condition increased by a few percentage points.  For hay and pasture land, reporters indicate that 89% is in adequate topsoil moisture condition, compared to 95% last week.      

Crop development is generally rated as normal by south eastern reporters.  Spring cereals and oilseeds tend to be behind more so than fall cereals and pulses.  Warm weather would improve crop condition.  Several farmers in CD 2b are re-seeding frost-damaged canola acreage to barley or oats. 

With the exception of sunflowers and triticale, all crops are rated at least 75% in good to excellent condition.  Most crops deteriorated slightly from last week.

Flea beetles damaged canola crops in CDs 1, 2b, and 3ase.  Some insecticide spraying is underway.  Cutworms damaged crops in CD 2b.  Disease pressures came from root rot (CD 1a) and tan spot (CDs 1b, 2b, 3ase).  Gophers caused crop damage in the Kisbey, Kennedy, Moosomin, Zehner, and Ceylon areas. 

The winds and showers delayed weed spraying operations, but that is proceeding when weather conditions permit.

South western Saskatchewan
(CDs 3asw, 3an, 3b, & 4)

The southwest was warm with some showers during the past week.  An average of 23 mm of precipitation was reported across the region, ranging from an average low of 11 mm in CDs 3an and 3bn to an average high of 46 mm reported in CD 4b.  Over 90 mm was reported in the Cadillac area.  The storm caused washouts and well as pounding the crops.  Some flooding occurred in CDs 3asw, 3an, 3bs, and 4.  Hail damage was reported from several locations in CD 3bs.  Frost and wind damage were reported in the Tompkins area.     

Seeding progress is reported as 98% complete across the southwest.  Seeding ranges from 97% complete in CD 3asw, to over 99% complete in CD 4. 

Reporters rate 92% of crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture, similar to last week.  The area of short topsoil moisture increased by a couple percentage points.  For hay and pasture land, topsoil moisture conditions are rated adequate on 90% of the land, also similar to last week.  Pastures and hay land are very dry in the Lucky Lake area.             

Crop development is generally rated as normal with all crops seeing about 1-digit percentage ahead and teen percentages behind. 

Crop reporters rated all crops at least 86% in good to excellent.  Winter wheat, fall rye, and mustard improved in condition from last week. 

Gophers damaged crops in many areas of the southwest.  Some farmers are re-seeding because of the damage, while others have given up trying to keep ahead of the gophers.  Hay land is also taking a beating from the gophers.  Ascochyta blight on chickpeas was reported in CDs 3asw, 3bs, and 3bn.  Tan spot was reported in CD 3bn.  Cutworms damaged durum crops in the Maple Creek area.

Farmers are spraying herbicide as weather conditions permit - some for the second time.  Farmers are also summerfallowing, chemfallowing, and fertilizing.  Some haying has started in the Maple Creek area.

East central Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 5 & 6a)

The east central region was windy and cool last week.  An average of 2 mm was reported across the region, ranging from an average low of 1 mm in CD 5a to an average high of 5 mm reported in CD 5b.  In the Insinger area, almost 25 mm was reported.  Damage from flooding was reported in CD 5b.  Frost damage was reported in localized areas across the region.  Damage from wind and drought was reported in the Ituna area, and wind damage was reported in the Leroy area.   

Seeding progress is reported as 95% complete across the east central region.  CD 6a is furthest advanced with 98% seeded, while CD 5b reports an average of 89% seeded.  Several RMs in CD 5b are less than 80% complete.  Some low land in the Goodeve area is still wet and may not be seeded.  As well, some fields in the Preeceville and Elfros areas will not be seeded.  Some canola is being re-seeded in the Veregin area due to frost damage.   

Topsoil moisture improved in the east central region during the past week.  Forty-nine per cent of reporters rated topsoil moisture on crop land as adequate, compared with 37% last week.  The balance rated topsoil moisture as surplus.  On hay and pasture land, topsoil moisture conditions were rated adequate by 66% of reporters and as surplus by the rest.  

Fall cereals are most highly rated as being at average development, while spring cereals and oilseeds are over 45% behind in development.  Warm weather would improve crop and hay development. 

Crop reporters rated all crops at least 80% good to excellent, with the exception of canola.  The following crops improved in condition from last week:  spring wheat, durum, oats, barley, flax, canola, lentils, and peas.  Some canola stands are looking thin and uneven. 

Flea beetles damaged canola crops across the region.  Cutworms damaged crops in the Ituna area. Leaf disease on both spring and winter cereal crops was reported in CDs 5a and 6a.  Dandelions are a problem in pastures and fields in the Kelliher area.  Early-seeded crops rotted in low areas in the Quill Lake region.    

Farmers are working on in-crop weed spraying as weather conditions permit.  They are also cultivating and harrowing.  In the Leroy area, some 2006 crop still remains to be harvested. 

West central Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 6b & 7)

The past week started off warm in the west central region and then turned cooler.  An average of 7 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 1 mm in CD 6b to an average high of 11 mm reported in CD 7a.  Over 25 mm was reported in the Major area.  Frost damage was reported in the Langham, Biggar, and Battleford areas.    

Seeding progress is reported as 99% complete across the west central region.  All RMs report at least 95% complete.      

Topsoil moisture conditions were similar to last week in the west central region.  Reporters rated 93% of crop land and 96% of hay and pasture land as having adequate topsoil moisture.  The Grandora and Perdue areas are looking for some rain.     

Spring crop development is rated as normal by 77% of west central reporters with at least 20% of spring crops rated as being behind in development.

Over 90% of all crops are reported in good to excellent condition, with the exception of fall rye.  Winter wheat and durum crops improved in condition from last week.

Flea beetles damaged canola crops in the Tramping Lake and Denzil areas.  Some insecticide applications were carried out.  Some carryover herbicide damage occurred in the Macklin area.

Farmers are summerfallowing, spraying weeds, rolling pulse crops, and hauling grain.  Winds have been hampering spraying.

North eastern Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 8 & 9ae)

Some north eastern reporters found the past week to be probably the best seeding week of the season, though cool temperatures were holding back crop growth.  An average of 4 mm of precipitation was reported across the region.  All reporters calling received less than 10 mm.  Localized areas received flooding damage throughout the region.  Some crops are yellowing from the stress of excess moisture. 

Seeding progress is reported as 84% complete across the northeast.  CD 9ae reports 95% complete, but a lot of farmers have simply stopped seeding and are going with summerfallow instead.  Up to 25% summerfallow could be present in that region.  Other areas also indicate that some wet fields will not get seeded, and some areas of fields will also be unable to be seeded.  Some re-seeding was done on canola and canary seed fields in the Star City and Arborfield areas due to poor emergence.     

Topsoil moisture improved in the northeast this past week, as surplus areas dried.  Reporters rate topsoil moisture on 68% of crop land as adequate, compared with 36% last week.  For hay and pasture land, reporters rate 79% as having adequate topsoil moisture conditions, up from 46% last week.   

Crop development is generally behind in the northeast - a combination of cool weather and late seeding. 

At least 59% of all crops are in good to excellent condition, with the exception of flax, lentils, and chickpeas.  The following crops improved in condition from last week:  winter wheat, fall rye, and barley. 

Farmers are busy with spraying operations to try to combat the heavy weed growth.

North western Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 9aw & 9b)

The northwest had some wind and cool nights.  Showers brought an average of 4 mm of precipitation.  Frost damage was reported in several areas in the northwest.  Canola seedlings were damaged in the Glaslyn area.   

Seeding progress is reported as 98% complete across the northwest.  All RMs report at least 90% seeded.

Topsoil moisture was rated as adequate on 94% of the crop land and the hay and pasture land, compared to 89% and 92% respectively the previous week.     

Spring crops are at least 70% at normal development and over 20% behind normal development.  Fall crops are close to 90% at normal development.  Warm weather will help crop development catch up.   

At least 85% of all crops are in good to excellent condition, except fall rye.  Winter wheat, barley, flax, and peas improved in condition from last week.    

Flea beetles were damaging crops in the Dorintosh area, and some spraying is underway. 

Herbicide spraying is underway, though some weather delays were experienced.  Some areas have heavy weed growth.