Crop Report 2007 Crop Report June 24, 2007
Crops are generally in good to excellent condition, though flooding and spraying delays caused concerns for farmers, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report. All regions, except the southern region, averaged between 38 mm to 62 mm of rain during the past week. Some farmers still hope to plant some crops for greenfeed, but will not be able to seed for a harvestable fall crop. Fall cereal crops are reported to be at least 90 per cent in good to excellent condition provincially, with 89 per cent of the crops at, or ahead of, normal development for this time of year. Spring cereal crops are over 85 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 71 per cent of the crops at, or ahead of, normal development. Flax and canola crops are reported to be 86 and 77 per cent in good to excellent condition respectively, and 64 per cent are at, or ahead of, normal development. Pulse crops are over 80 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 81 per cent reported to be at, or ahead of, normal development.
Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land deteriorated during the past week as a result of the heavy rains. Seventy-three per cent of crop land was rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, 25 per cent of crop land was rated as having surplus topsoil moisture, and two per cent of the land was rated as having short, to very short topsoil moisture. Hay and pasture land were slightly better, as 78 per cent of the land was rated as having adequate topsoil moisture conditions. Pasture conditions have improved, with 95 per cent reported to be in good to excellent condition compared with 89 per cent at the end of May. Most areas of the province had adequate livestock water requirements. Haying operations on the 2007 crop are just getting underway, with three per cent cut or baled. Warm, settled weather will help move haying operations along. The main source of crop damage during the past week was flooding. Crop damage also came from gophers, hail, disease (ascochyta blight, leaf diseases), wind, and insects (flea beetles, grasshoppers, aphids, wire worms).
(Crop Districts 1, 2, & 3ase) The south eastern region was cool at the beginning of the past week, with warm temperatures, high humidity, and showers the rest of the week. An average of 20 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 11 mm reported in Crop District (CD) 3ase, to an average high of 29 mm reported in CD 1b. Over 50 mm was reported in the Windthorst and Moosomin areas. Flooding was reported in CDs 1 and 2a. Crops were drowned out - up to 20% of fields in some areas. Some crops are yellowing with moisture stress and farmers are not sure how much will come back. Wind damage was reported in CD 1 and hail damage was reported in CDs 1b, 2b, and 3ase.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland improved from last week as some of the surplus moisture dried up. Reporters rate 78% of the crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture conditions, compared with 70% last week. Conditions also improved on hay and pasture land, with 85% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture compared to 80% last week. The Benson and Assiniboia areas were looking for some more rain. The Tantallon area has not been able to seed since June 9, and is still 35% not seeded. Seeding was also not able to be completed in the Parry area. In the Montmartre area, producers re-seeded some areas of frost damaged canola to greenfeed. Aside from flooding, insects and disease were the main source of crop damage during the past week. Flea beetle damage was reported in CDs 1 and 2b, and some insecticide was being applied. Aphids and grasshoppers caused crop damage in CD 3ase. Leaf diseases on cereal crops were reported across the region. Ascochyta blight caused damage in CD 2b, and septoria in CDs 1b and 2b. Some gopher damage was reported in CDs 1b, 2b, and 3ase. Pasture conditions were similar to the end of May, with 95% of reporters giving good to excellent ratings. Livestock water supplies have improved, with 100% reporting adequate supplies, compared with 97% in late May. First-cut haying is underway with over 2% of the crop cut. Quality is expected to be generally good to excellent. The weeds in the summerfallow are getting ahead of farmers. The weather continues to hamper weed control efforts. In the Whitewood area, some aerial spraying was done. Sprayers were leaving ruts in the Fillmore area. Some farmers were hauling grain. Black flies were bothering livestock in the Indian Head area.
(CDs 3asw, 3an, 3b, & 4) Rain and wind early in the week gave way to warm weather with storms in some areas of the southwest. An average of 15 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 10 mm reported in CD 3bs, to an average high of 20 mm reported in CD 3bn. Hail damage was reported in CDs 3asw and 4a. Wind damage was reported in CDs 3asw, 3bs, and 4a. The heat was causing some canola plants to drop their leaves in the Glenbain area. The Frontier area received three hail storms on June 24th and time will tell how much damage they caused.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland improved somewhat from last week as some areas of short moisture received rain. Reporters rated 94% of crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 91% last week. Conditions deteriorated slightly on hay and pasture land with 85% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 89% last week. The following areas are looking for rain - Coderre, Vanguard, Hazenmore, Swift Current, Lucky Lake, and Maple Creek. Gophers were the main source of crop damage during the past week. As badgers go after the gophers, they are leaving even bigger holes in fields. In the Mankota area, gophers have damaged up to one third of fields. Other damage came from ascochyta blight (CDs 3asw, 3an, 3b). Nitrogen deficiencies were showing up in cereal crops in the Gull Lake area. Pasture conditions improved somewhat, with 92% of reporters giving good to excellent ratings compared with 89% at the end of May. Availability of livestock water remained the same with 98% of reporters rating availability as adequate. There were some shortages in the Mankota area. Haying operations are getting underway with 5% of the hay cut and 1% baled or made into silage. Quality is generally expected to be good. Farmers were hauling grain, spraying when weather conditions permitted, and summerfallowing.
(Crop Districts 5 & 6a) The east central region was humid with frequent showers during the past week. An average of 38 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 34 mm reported in CD 6a, to an average high of 42 mm reported in CD 5a. Over 70 mm was reported in the Stockholm, Ituna, and Humboldt areas. Flooding damage was reported across the region. Hail and wind damage was reported in CDs 5a and 6a. Hail in the Bethune area was pea-sized to nickel-sized. In the Bulyea area, hail appeared to be quite damaging in some areas.
Some areas felt that the crop outlook took a downturn with the additional rain. The Langenburg area has yellowing of peas and flax and well as premature blooming of canola. The Ituna area reports crops yellowing as well as ruts and washouts in fields. The Kuroki area reports crops yellowing and that a good 20% of early-seeded crops are now flooded out. Crops are turning yellow in low spots in the Quill Lake area and sprayers are leaving ruts in the fields. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated from last week, with 42% of the crop land reported as having surplus topsoil moisture, compared with 27% last week. Conditions are also wet on hay and pasture land with 38% of the land having surplus topsoil moisture, compared to 21% last week. Insect damage to crops came from flea beetles and aphids. Insecticide was sprayed for aphids in the Leroy area. Counts of bertha armyworm moths are increasing. Leaf diseases on cereals and ascochyta blight were reported. Fungicides were applied in some areas. Gophers damaged crops in CDs 5a and 6a. Pasture conditions have improved, with 98% of reporters giving good to excellent ratings compared with 84% at the end of May. Availability of livestock water continues to be reported as 100% adequate. Some harvesting of the 2007 hay crop has begun in CDs 5a and 6a, with about 1% of the hay cut, baled or put into silage. Quality is generally expected to be good. Herbicide spraying continues to be a challenge and weed growth is heavy. Farmers are hauling grain.
(Crop Districts 6b & 7) The west central region saw some wind, rain, heat, and storms during the past week. An average of 62 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 38 mm reported in CD 7a, to an average high of 73 mm reported in CD 7b. Over 100 mm of rain was reported in the Langham and Rosthern areas. Flooding damage was reported in all regions. Hail damage was reported in CD 7b and some wind damage was reported in CD 6b. Hail stones up to one inch in diameter in the Unity area damaged rye and barley crops - up to 100%.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are wetter than last week. Reporters rated 29% of crop land as having surplus topsoil moisture, compared to 7% last week. Conditions improved on hay and pasture land with 92% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture compared to 85% last week. Many of the areas that had short topsoil moisture are now reporting adequate moisture. Wire worms damaged crops in CD 7b, while leaf diseases caused some crop damage in CD 6b. Pasture conditions have improved, with 100% of reporters giving good to excellent ratings, compared to 90% in late May. Availability of livestock water is also the same as the end of May with 100% of reporters indicating the supplies are adequate. Six per cent of the 2007 hay crop has been cut. Quality is generally expected to be good. Farmers are trying to complete spraying operations. Some crops that were seeded into mud are showing poor germination.
(Crop Districts 8 & 9ae) The north eastern region saw rain, wind and hail at the beginning of last week, but did see warmer weather at the end of the week. An average of 59 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 39 mm reported in CD 9ae, to an average high of 62 mm reported in CD 8b. Over 90 mm was reported in the Pleasantdale and Middle Lake areas. Flooding damage was reported across the region. Hail and wind damage were reported in CD 8a. Barley is turning yellow in the Tisdale, Arborfield, and Bruno areas. The flooding caused some permanent damage to canola crops in the Star City area.
Topsoil moisture conditions are wetter this past week, with 51% of the crop land rated as having surplus topsoil moisture, compared with 28% last week. Conditions are also wetter on hay and pasture land with 38% of the land reported as having surplus topsoil moisture compared to 25% last week. The heavy rains put an end to any seeding plans in the Porcupine Plain, Tisdale, and Nipawin areas. An estimate from the Nipawin area indicated that 10 - 15% of the land did not get seeded. Flea beetles and tan spot caused crop damage in CD 8b. Pasture conditions are similar to the end of May, with 83% of reporters giving good to excellent ratings. Wet pastures are being damaged by the movement of the stock. Availability of livestock water is also the same, with 100% of reporters indicating adequate supplies of water for stock. Some farmers have begun cutting the 2007 hay crop in CD 8b. Quality is generally expected to be good. Farmers got some spraying done towards the end of the week. Weed growth is abundant in many areas.
(Crop Districts 9aw & 9b) The north western region was saw cool, windy weather as well as warm, windy, and humid weather during the past week. An average of 44 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 32 mm reported in CD 9b, to an average high of 61 mm reported in CD 9aw. Over 100 mm was reported in the Duck Lake and Leask areas. Flooding was reported in a number of areas in the region. Localized wind damage was also reported across the region. Lots of deadfall was blown off in the Lloydminster area.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland got wetter during the past week. Fourteen per cent of the crop land is rated in a surplus topsoil moisture situation, compared with 1% last week. Conditions were also wetter on hay and pasture land with 14% of the land rated as having surplus topsoil moisture compared to less than 1% last week. Pasture conditions have improved, with 100% of reporters giving good to excellent ratings compared with 84% at the end of May. Availability of livestock water remained the same, with all reporters indicating there were adequate supplies. Haying operations have started in the northwest, with 1% of the 2007 crop cut. Quality is generally expected to be good. Gophers caused some damage in the North Battleford area. Badgers are moving into the pastures behind the gophers and making more and larger holes. The counts of bertha armyworm moths in traps is increasing. Crop spraying was delayed by wind and rain, and the weeds are getting ahead.
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||