Crop Report July 23, 2007

Hot, dry weather this past week has advanced crop development and haying operations, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.

Fall cereals are reported to be at least 79 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 92 per cent at or ahead of normal development.  Spring cereals are reported to be at least 55 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 84 per cent at or ahead of normal development.  Oilseed crops are reported to be 72 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 81 per cent at or ahead of normal development.  Pulse crops are about 60 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 92 per cent of the crop at or ahead of normal development.     

Topsoil moisture conditions are reported as adequate on about 50 per cent of crop, hay, and pasture land, with 46 per cent of the land in a short or very short moisture situation.  Many areas are looking for a respite from the heat and a final rain to fill the crops.

Drought and heat stress were the main sources of crop damage.  Other sources of damage during the past week were flooding, hail, disease, insects, and gophers.

Haying operations made good progress during the past week and 65 per cent of the first-cut hay crop has been baled or put into silage.  Some south western and west central areas have begun work on a second cut of hay. 

Pasture conditions have deteriorated since the end of June, with 56 per cent of reporters rating pastures as good to excellent, compared with 95 per cent in June.   

Livestock water supplies have also deteriorated since the end of June, with 95 per cent reporting adequate supplies, compared with 99 per cent in June.

During the past week, the south eastern region was generally hot with high humidity.  An average of 6 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 2 mm reported in Crop District (CD) 3ase, to an average high of 20 mm reported in CD 2b.  The Qu'Appelle area reported 50 mm on the 21st.  Damage from flooding and hail was reported in the CDs 1b and 2b.  Wind damage, including lodging, was reported in CD 2b.  Drought and heat stress was reported across the region.  The heat and lack of rain is hurting the late crops the most.  Reporters also comment about white heads in the wheat crops, flower blast in peas, flax, and canola, decreasing yields, and crops prematurely ripening.     

Crop conditions have deteriorated across the board, with increasingly larger percentages of the crop moving in to the fair category.  Crop development has been pushed ahead.   

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated this past week with the hot, dry weather.  Reporters rate 46% of the crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture conditions, compared to 74% last week.  Six per cent of the crop land is rated in very short topsoil moisture condition.  For hay and pasture land, 43% is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 74% last week.  Eight per cent of the hay and pasture land is rated in very short topsoil moisture condition.

Insects were a major source of crop damage this past week, with reporters citing damage from wheat midge, aphids, grasshoppers, diamondback moth larvae, and painted lady butterflies.  Some insecticide spraying was done.  Crop diseases included tan spot, ascochyta blight, and rust.  Some fungicide spraying took place.  Gophers caused damage in CD 3ase.   

First-cut haying operations are moving ahead in the southeast with 62% baled or silaged, up from 40% last week.  Quality is generally expected to be good to excellent.  The high humidity was a challenge for some waiting for their hay to dry down.  Some barley crops were being made into silage in the Ceylon area.     

Pasture conditions have deteriorated since the end of June.  Sixty-six per cent of reporters rate pasture conditions as good to excellent compared with 95% in June.  Livestock water supplies are rated as adequate by all reporters. 

The past week was hot and dry in the southwest, with high humidity and wind in some areas.  An average of 4 mm of precipitation was reported during the past week, ranging from an average low of ½ mm in CD 4a, to an average high of 18 mm reported in CD 3bn.  Heat and drought stress were reported across the region.  Crop burning is widespread, and yields are suffering.  Estimates from the Vanguard area indicate crops may be diminished by up to 50%.  Wind damage, including lodging, was reported in CDs 3asw, 3b and 4a.  Hail damage was reported in CDs 3bn and 4b. 

Crop conditions have deteriorated across the board, with increasingly larger percentages of the crop moving in to the fair and poor categories.  Crop development has been pushed ahead.

Peas were being combined in the Spring Valley area.  Winter wheat was being harvested in the Ponteix area.  Swathing of fall rye was underway in the Burstall area.   

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated this past week with the hot, dry weather.  Reporters rate 16% of the crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture conditions, compared to 23% last week.  Forty-seven per cent of the crop land is rated in very short topsoil moisture condition.  For hay and pasture land, 9% is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 15% last week.  Fifty-seven per cent of the hay and pasture land is rated in very short topsoil moisture condition.

Grasshoppers, wheat midge, and gophers caused crop damage in the southwest during the past week.  In the Mankota area, some fields have been completely written off from gopher damage and some farmers have turned cattle out on the fields.   

Haying operations made good progress with 83% of the first-cut hay either baled or put into silage, up from 59% last week.  Quality is expected to be good.  Sixteen per cent of the second-cut has been knocked down. 

Pasture conditions have deteriorated significantly since the end of June.  Seventeen per cent of reporters rate pasture conditions as good to excellent compared with 90% giving those ratings in June.  Livestock water supplies are rated as adequate by 81% of reporters, compared to 98% in late June.  Some dugouts are low and very dirty in the Maple Creek area.  

The east central region was hot and sunny during the past week, with some storms.  An average of 8 mm of precipitation was reported during the past week, ranging from an average low of 6 mm reported in CDs 5b and 6a, to an average high of 12 mm reported in CD 5a.  Heat and drought stress was reported across the region, though not to the extent that it was in the south.  Some yield loss is expected.  Losses of up to 20% are estimated in the Imperial area.  Hail damage was reported in the Abernethy, Foam Lake, Quill Lake, and Kenaston areas.  Wind damage, including lodging, was reported in the Ituna and Kamsack areas.        

Crop conditions are deteriorating a bit with some of the crop falling into the fair category. 

For crop development, double-digit percentages are still in the behind average category, though the numbers are shrinking.  Some reporters indicate that crops are maturing too quickly on lighter soils.           

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated slightly, with 62% of the crop land and 63% of the hay and pasture land reported as having adequate moisture, compared with 70% last week.   

Insects were the main source of crop damage during the past week, including wheat midge, sawflies, aphids, and diamondback moth larvae.  Insecticide spraying for wheat midge is underway.  Fungal diseases reported include net blotch, tan spot, rust, and smut, and fungicides are being applied.    

First-cut haying operations made good progress, with 56% baled or silaged, up from 31% last week.  Quality is expected to be good.

Pasture conditions have deteriorated somewhat since the end of June.  Crops reporters rate 75% of their pastures in good to excellent condition, compared with 98% at the end of June.  Livestock water supplies are rated as adequate by all reporters. 

The west central region was hot, with wind and storms this past week.  An average of 12 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 8 mm reported in CD 7b, to an average high of 20 mm reported in CD 7a.  Over 40 mm fell in the Harris area.  Heat and drought stress were reported across the region.  Wind damage was reported in several locations across the region.  Hail damage was reported in the Grandora, Rosetown, Harris, Biggar, Cando, Denzil, and Battleford areas.  Damage was generally spotty, though in the Harris area, losses of up to 100% are expected.    

Crop conditions are starting to slip into the fair category, but are generally still reported as good to excellent.  In crop development, spring cereals and oilseeds still show double-digit numbers in the behind category, but crops are generally at normal development.     

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated, with 49% of crop, hay and pasture land being rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with over 65% last week.   

Insect damage came from wheat midge, diamondback moth larvae and bertha armyworms.  Tan spot was reported in CD 7b.  . 

Harvesting the 2007 hay crop is second furthest advanced in the west central area with 71% baled or silaged, up from 50% last week.  Quality is generally expected to be good.  High humidity was hampering some haying operations.  While many reporters don't expect a second cut of hay, some have 25% of their second-cut baled or made into silage.

Pasture conditions have declined since the end of June.  Crops reporters rate 58% of their pastures in good to excellent condition, compared with 100% giving the same ratings in June.  Livestock water supplies are inadequate in the Dinsmore area. 

The north eastern region had a very warm week, with some wind and patchy rains.  An average of 18 mm of precipitation was reported during the past week, ranging from an average low of 16 mm reported in CD 9ae, to an average high of 20 mm reported in CD 8a.  The Codette area reported 40 mm of rain.  Wind damage, including lodging, in CDs 8b and 9ae.  Hail damage was reported in the Porcupine Plain (up to 50% in some areas) and Vonda areas.      

Crop conditions are primarily in the good to excellent category, though crop development remains 30% to 40% behind normal.  .  

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop, hay and pasture land improved this past week, with 88% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with ratings in the 70% range last week.     

Insects were the main source of crop damage this past week and came from wheat midge, grasshoppers, and bertha armyworms.  Spraying was taking place for wheat midge.  Sclerotinia also caused some crop damage. 

Haying operations are coming along with 43% of the 2007 crop baled or silaged, up from 21% last week.  Quality is generally expected to be good. 

Pastures have deteriorated only slightly since the end of June.  Eighty-eight per cent of reporters rated pastures in good to excellent condition, compared to 83% in June.  Livestock water supplies are rated as adequate by all reporters.    

The north western region was hot and windy during the past week, with some showers.  An average of 11 mm of precipitation was reported ranging from an average low of 8 mm reported in CD 9b, to an average high of 15 mm reported in CD 9aw.  Wind damage, including lodging, was reported in a number of areas.  In the Glaslyn area, strong winds broke trees and blew over a windbreak.  Heat and drought stress was reported in several regions in CD 9b.  Yields are being affected as crops are starting to burn.  High temperatures are causing early flower loss on canola.  Hail damage was reported in the Radisson and Glaslyn areas.     

Crops are still generally in good to excellent shape, though the percentage in the fair category is increasing.  Fall and spring cereal crops still show double digits for behind normal development, but most crops are at normal development for this time of year. 

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop, hay, and pasture land deteriorated from last week.  Seventy per cent of the crop land is rated as having adequate moisture, compared with 84% last week.  Two-thirds of hay and pasture land are rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 89% last week.   

Grasshoppers, wheat midge, and gophers caused crop damage in CD 9b.  Gophers caused crop damage in CD 9aw.    

The northwest made good progress in haying operations with 56% of the crop baled or silaged, up from 29% last week.  Quality is expected to be good.

Pasture conditions have deteriorated since June, with two-thirds of reporters rating pastures as good to excellent, compared to all reporters in late June.  Livestock water availability is rated as adequate by all reporters.