Crop Report August 5, 2007

Farmers have four per cent of the 2007 crop combined, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.

A further nine per cent has either been swathed or is ready to be straight combined. There has been some harvest activity in all regions of the province, and in all crops.

Fall cereals are reported to be about 80 per cent in good to excellent condition. Spring cereals are reported to be between 41 to 61 per cent in good to excellent condition. Oilseed crops are reported to be 57 to 60 per cent in good to excellent condition. Pulse crops are 49 to 58 per cent in good to excellent condition.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop, hay, and pasture land deteriorated in all regions during the past week. Over three-quarters of the province's crop land is reported to be in short or very short topsoil moisture condition.

Desiccation of pulse crops is underway. While many areas of the province are looking for a rain shower to help finish off crops, reporters in some areas indicated that rain will no longer be beneficial and may reduce crop quality.

First-cut haying operations are nearing completion, with 89 per cent baled or put into silage. Although some areas have begun a second cut, with 12 per cent completed provincially, many reporters do not expect a second cut of hay in their areas. 

Hot, dry conditions were the main source of crop damage during the past week. Many crop reporters indicated that yields will be reduced due to the heat. Insect damage came from bertha armyworms, wheat stem maggot, wheat midge, aphids, grasshoppers, flea beetles, diamond back moth larvae, and sawflies.  Disease pressures came from rust, root rot, aster yellows, sclerotinia, glume blotch, ascochyta blight, alternaria black spot, and mildew. Other sources of crop damage during the past week included hail, wind, and gophers.

The south eastern region was generally hot and dry during the past week with a few scattered showers.  An average of 1 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average high of 2 mm reported in Crop District 1b.  Heat and drought stress were reported across the region.  Wind damage was reported in CDs 1a, 2b, and 3ase.  In the Odessa area, the wind scattered and twisted pea swaths.  The wind lodged crops in the Zehner area.           

Five per cent of the 2007 south eastern crop has been combined and a further 11% has been swathed or is ready to be straight-combined.  Forty-four per cent of the winter wheat, 41% of the fall rye, 31% of the peas, and 16% of the lentils have been combined.  Some barley has been combined in the Wawota area and yielded about 60 bu/acre - farmers had expected 80 bu/acre earlier in the season.  In the Ceylon area, the peas were running between 30 to 35 bu/acre. 

Crop conditions continue to deteriorate with the hot, dry weather pushing a higher percentage of crops into the fair and some to the poor categories.   

In the Lampman area, the winter wheat only went about 75% of what was expected.  Also in that area, farmers are worried about light weight oats and barley.  In the Kisbey area, there has been some bleaching in wheat swaths.     

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated this past week.  Thirty per cent of the crop land is rated as having very short topsoil moisture conditions, compared with 17% last week.  Conditions also deteriorated on hay and pasture land with 33% of the land rated as very short, compared to 19% last week.         

Insect damage came from aphids, bertha armyworms, wheat midge, wheat stem maggots, diamondback moth larvae, flea beetles, saw flies, and grasshoppers.  Some insecticide spraying was done.  Stag head was reported in canola in the Lampman area, and root rot was reported in the Grenfell area.  Wheat stem maggot is reducing yields by 10% or more in the Lampman and Kennedy areas.

First-cut haying operations are almost complete with 91% baled or silaged, and 7% lying in the swath.  Quality is generally expected to be good.  Second-cut haying has begun in some areas with 28% baled or put into silage and 10% cut across the region.  Many reporters do not expect a second cut in their area.

Spring crops are being desiccated.  Cattle in the Minton area are suffering from the heat and the flies. 

The past week was again hot and dry in the southwest, with some strong winds.  An average of 3 mm of precipitation was reported during the past week, with an average high of 9 mm reported in CD 3bs.  Heat and drought stress were reported across the region.  Wind damage was reported in CDs 3an, 3bs, 3bn, and 4b.  Swaths were blown around in the Moose Jaw and Eyebrow areas.  Some canola, lentil, and pea crops were shattered in the Glenbain area.  Crops were lodged in the Elrose area.  Hail damage was reported in the Admiral, Elrose, and Eastend areas.     

Eleven per cent of the 2007 south western crop has been combined and a further 18% is swathed or is ready to be straight-combined.  Thirty-eight per cent of the winter wheat, 51% of the fall rye, 51% of the peas, and 28% of the lentils have been combined.

Wheat samples are shriveled in the Fife Lake area.  In the Limerick area, crops are dropping leaves and turning pale in colour.  In the Mossbank area, peas were harvested at 86 to 89 days.  In the Hazenmore area, early reported yields include peas at 18 bu/acre, lentils at 10 bu/acre, and mustard at 7 bu/acre.  Early harvested samples in the Vanguard area indicate very light bushel weights.  Red lentil yields in the Tyner area varied from 750 to 1500 lbs/acre.  Yellow peas are maturing green in the Gull Lake area and grading as feed.  In the Sceptre area, yellow peas came in at 30 bu/acre.                 

Crop conditions in the southwest continue to deteriorate as the majority of the spring crops fall into the fair and poorer categories. 

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land remain similar to last week, with 59% of the land rated in very short topsoil moisture condition.  For hay and pasture land, 70% is rated as having very short topsoil moisture.           

Insect pressures came from grasshoppers, flea beetles, and sawflies.  Disease pressures came from rust.  Gophers continue to damage crops in many areas.  It is hoped that the recent approval of liquid strychnine will help in reducing populations in the worst regions. 

Haying operations are winding down in the southwest, with 96% of the first-cut hay baled or put into silage.  Quality is expected to be good.  Most reporters do not expect to see a second cut in their area. 

Rain in some areas on the Monday holiday helped reduce the fire hazard somewhat.  Farmers will still need to be prepared for fires while harvesting.

Pastures are getting very dry.  Water sources are low for livestock in the Stewart Valley and Shaunavon areas.   

The east central region was hot with some thunderstorms during the past week.  An average of 4 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average of 8 mm reported in CD 5a.  Drought, heat, and wind stress were reported across the region.  Crops were lodged in the Insinger area from the wind and the rain.  In the Bethune area, the wind scattered canola and lentil swaths.  Hail damage was reported in several areas.  In the Saltcoats area, hail damage was mostly on the canola.  In the Ituna area, the hail wiped out crops from 5 to 100%, and caused damage to power lines and buildings.  Large hail was reported in the Liberty area with a lot of damage.            

One per cent of the 2007 east central crop has been combined and 5% has been swathed or is ready to be straight-combined.  Eight per cent of the winter wheat, 17% of the fall rye, 4% of the lentils, and 4% of the peas have been combined.  Desiccation is underway.

Early yield reports from the Holdfast area show winter wheat at 30 to 50 bu/acre and peas at 30 to 40 bu/acre.  Winter wheat in the Semans area went about 40 bu/acre.          

Over 50% of crops remain categorized as being in good to excellent condition, but the heat is moving more of them into the fair and poor categories.   

Topsoil moisture conditions deteriorated, with 36% of the crop land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 54% last week.  Conditions also deteriorated on hay and pasture land with 42% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 52% last week. 

Insect damage came from bertha armyworms, sawflies, wheat midge, grasshoppers, aphids, wheat stem maggot, and diamondback moth larvae.  Some insecticide application is underway.  Disease pressure came from leaf disease, rust, aster yellows, stag head, and smut.

First-cut haying operations are progressing, with 90% baled or silaged, and a further 7% lying in the swath.  Quality is expected to be good.  The second cut is just getting underway with 5% baled or made into silage.  Many reporters do not expect to see a second cut in their area.  Hay yields were reported to be down 20 to 30% in the Goodeve area.

The west central region saw warm, dry weather this past week, with some isolated showers.  An average of 6 mm of precipitation was reported during the past week, with an average of 10 mm reported in CD 7a.  Heat and drought stress caused damage across the region.  Crops are turning white in several areas.  Wind damage was reported in several areas in CDs 6b and 7b.  Hail damage was reported in the Imperial and Hanley areas.  Hail in the southern third of RM 283 caused damage of up to 100%.   

One per cent of the 2007 west central crop has been combined and a further 7% has been swathed or is ready to be straight-combined.  Sixteen per cent of the fall rye, 15% of the winter wheat, 6% of the lentils and 3% of the peas have been combined.  Pulse desiccation is underway.

In the Rosetown area, fall rye was reported to yield around 40 bu/acre.        

Over 50% of the crops remain in good to excellent condition, but the percentage in the fair and poor categories is increasing. 

Topsoil moisture conditions deteriorated, with 23% of the crop, hay and pasture land rated in very short moisture condition, compared with 14% last week.  Pastures are in poor condition.       

Insect pressures came from bertha armyworms, flea beetles, sawflies, diamondback moth larvae, and wheat midge.  Disease pressures came from sclerotinia, glume blotch, alternaria black spot, and ascochyta blight.

Cutting and baling the 2007 hay crop is winding down with 96% baled or silaged, and 3% lying in the swath.  Quality is generally expected to be good.  Nineteen per cent of the second cut crop has been baled and a further 44% cut, though a number of reporters do not expect to harvest a second cut. 

The north eastern region was sunny, warm, and dry during the past week.  An average of 3 mm of precipitation was reported during the past week, with an average of 10 mm reported in CD 9ae.  Heat and drought stress were reported in CD 8.  Rainfall and cooler temperatures are needed for crops.  Wind damaged crops in the Arborfield area.      

One per cent of 2007 crop has been swathed or is ready to straight combine in the northeast.  No combining has been done yet.  Peas are starting to be desiccated.       

Over 50% of the crops remain in good to excellent condition, though crops are deteriorating and moving into the fair and poor categories.

In the Porcupine Plain area, it is estimated that later-seeded cereal crops may have lost 50% of their yield because of the heat.  Crops are starting to burn in the Tisdale area and yield losses are expected, especially in canola.      

Topsoil moisture conditions continued to deteriorate this past week, with 42% of the crop, hay and pasture land rated as having short or very short topsoil moisture conditions, compared with 15 to 20% last week.   

Insect damage came from bertha armyworms, wheat midge, leaf mites, and diamondback moth larvae.  Insecticide spraying continues.     

Haying operations are coming along with close to 90% of the 2007 crop baled or silaged.  Quality is expected to be good.  Harvesting a second cut has begun with 5% baled or silaged and a further 14% lying in the swath.  Many reporters do not expect a second cut in their area.

The north western region had another hot, dry week with some hail.  An average of 3 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average of 4 mm reported in CD 9aw.  Heat and drought stress were reported across the region.  A few good showers would help crops.  Wind damaged crops in the Speers and North Battleford areas.  Hail was reported in the Meota area.  Golf-ball sized hail was reported in the North Battleford area on Aug. 6.     

Four per cent of the 2007 north western crop has been swathed or is ready to be straight combined.  One per cent of each of the oats and the barley, and 13% of the fall rye have been made into greenfeed.    

For the most part, the majority of the crop remains in the good to excellent categories, though larger percentages are being rated as fair and/or poor.

Early-seeded crops are burning in the Hafford area.  Crops are also burning in the Meota area.  Peas are wilting off in the Speers area.  Last week's heat did more crop damage in the Leask area than the heat of the previous weeks.  Harvest is coming in fast in the Lloydminster area and crop prospects are poor.       

Topsoil moisture conditions deteriorated during the past week, with 16% of the crop land and 22% of the hay and pasture land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 38% and 36% respectively% last week.  Pastures are starting to turn brown in the Barthel area.       

Bertha armyworms, diamondback moth larvae, and grasshoppers all caused crop damage during the past week.  Insecticide application is underway.  Sclerotinia was reported in the Shellbrook area.  Gophers caused damage in the St. Walburg area.   

Eighty-six per cent of the hay crop has been baled or silaged, and a further 9% is lying in the swath.  Quality is expected to be good.  Many reporters do not expect to see a second cut in their area.