Crop Report 2008 Crop Report June 16, 2008
Producers in central and southern Saskatchewan received much needed rain this past week according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report. Average rainfall, as tracked by the provincial crop reporters, was recorded for the following areas: southwest - 75 mm, southeast - 63 mm, east central - 49 mm, west central - 26 mm, northeast - 14 mm and northwest - 7 mm. Fall cereal crops are reported to be at least 60 per cent in good to excellent condition provincially, with 47 per cent of the crops at, or ahead of normal development for this time of year. Over 60 per cent of spring cereal crops are in good to excellent condition, with 34 per cent of the crops at, or ahead of normal development. Flax and canola crops are reported to be 60 and 48 per cent in good to excellent condition respectively, and 30 per cent are at, or ahead of normal development. Pulse crops are over 60 per cent in good to excellent condition, with 43 per cent reported to be at, or ahead of normal development for this time of year. Warmer temperatures are needed to improve crop development. Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land improved during the past week. Reporters rated 77 per cent of crop land and 74 per cent of hay and pasture land as having adequate topsoil moisture. Haying operations on the 2008 crop are just getting underway, with less than one per cent cut. Warm weather is needed to help move haying operations along. Flooding was the main source of crop damage during the past week. Other sources included gophers, insects (flea beetles and cutworms), drought, frost, hail, wind and leaf disease.
South eastern Saskatchewan
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland improved from last week, with 87% of crop land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 60% last week. Conditions were also better on hay and pasture land with 94% rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 47% last week. For the first time this season, there are some areas of surplus moisture in the southeast. In addition to flooding, insects and disease were the main source of crop damage during the past week. Flea beetle damage was reported in the Montmartre area. Cutworms and tan spot damaged crops in the Weyburn area. Leaf disease was reported in the Moosomin area. Gophers caused crop damage in the Minton area. In the Frobisher area, some crops were turning yellow due to stress from the cool, wet weather. Windy, wet weather slowed spraying operations last week. There are heavy infestations of wild oats and millet in the Whitewood area, as well as some fields with a lot of gopher mounds. Weed pressure is also starting to show in the Weyburn area. Hay crops are expected to have below average yields across the region.
South western Saskatchewan
The week was generally cool, windy and wet in the southwest. An average of 75 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 66 mm reported in CD 3an, to an average high of 92 mm reported in CD 3bs. Over 100 mm was reported in the Viceroy, Mankota, Ponteix, Webb, and Gouldtown areas. Damage from flooding in low spots was reported in several areas. There was some hail damage in the Rockglen area. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland generally improved from last week, with 88% of the crop land and 93% of the hay and pasture land rating adequate for topsoil moisture. For the first time this season, there are some areas of surplus moisture in the southwest. Gophers were one of the main sources of crop damage during the past week. Cutworms damaged crops in the Viceroy and Blumenhof areas. Weed pressure is high and farmers are hoping to get back to spraying operations with a return to warm, dry weather. Haying operations are just getting underway with some cutting in CD 4b. Yields are expected to be below average across the region. The rain helped raise dugout levels.
East central Saskatchewan
Reporters rated 90% of the crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture, up from 59% last week. Hay and pasture land moisture ratings show 92% having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 47% last week. Damage from flea beetles was reported in the Jedburgh, Foam Lake, Preeceville, Quill Lake, and Lumsden areas. Cutworm damage was reported in the Leroy area. Gophers caused crop damage in the Lumsden area. Some hay cutting has started in CD 6a. A return to warmer weather is sought to bring pastures and hay crops along. Hay yields are expected to be down in the east central region this year. With recent moisture, warmer weather will help ungerminated seeds to sprout and emerge. The cold weather has been hard on the crops. Canola fields in particular are showing slow growth and spotty emergence. Some crops in the Leroy area are a yellow-green colour from the cool, damp weather. Spraying operations are behind and weed pressures are building.
West central Saskatchewan
Reporters rated 65% of crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 36% last week. For hay and pasture land, 51% was rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 16% last week. Some west central areas are short of moisture and need rain. Recent rain will help germinate crops that have not yet emerged. Rapid weed growth will mean farmers will be busy spraying. Hay crops are short because of dry and cold weather and some stands will not be worth cutting.
North eastern Saskatchewan
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland improved a little this past week, with 68% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 56% last week. Reporters rate 63% of the hay and pasture land as having adequate topsoil moisture, up from 55% last week. Several parts of the region still need rain to help the crops, hay, and pasture, and all areas need warmer temperatures. Flea beetles were reported in the Vonda area. The hay crops are expected to be short this year. Spraying continues around the wind and the showers. Some patchy canola was reseeded to barley in the Alvena area.
North western Saskatchewan
Twenty-eight per cent of crop land is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 24% last week. Nineteen per cent of hay and pasture land was rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 22% last week. Flea beetle damage was reported in the Duck Lake and Turtleford areas. Gopher damage was reported in the Pierceland area. There are crops that haven't germinated yet, and farmers are wondering if those crops will develop. Some crops have been worked up due to lack of moisture. Pastures and hay crops are in very poor condition. Spraying operations are underway - for both weeds and flea beetles.
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