Crop Report July 20, 2008

July rains have helped improve crop conditions, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report.

On a provincial basis, at least a majority of each crop is reported to be in good to excellent condition as shown by the following figures: spring wheat and durum - 70 per cent, oats - 74 per cent, barley - 73 per cent, flax - 68 per cent, canola - 65 per cent, lentils - 72 per cent and peas - 75 per cent. According to crop reporters, crops continue to remain behind normal development for this time of year in many areas.

There was a slight improvement in topsoil moisture conditions from the previous week. Overall, topsoil moisture conditions are reported as adequate on 80 per cent of the crop land and 70 per cent of the hay and pasture land. 

Haying progress was slow during the past week because of wet weather. One-third of the first-cut hay crop has been baled or put into silage.  An additional 30 per cent has been cut, and a good portion of this has had at least one rain on it. Three-quarters of those reporting this week indicated that there would not be a second cut of hay in their district.     

Hail and insects were the main sources of crop damage. Other sources of damage during the past week were flooding, wind, drought, disease and gophers.

Crop reporters indicate that many farmers were applying insecticide and fungicide. 

South eastern Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 1, 2, & 3ase)
During the past week, the south eastern region was wet and humid with some hail.  An average of 22 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 13 mm reported in Crop District (CD) 1a, to an average high of 28 mm reported in CD 1b.  Over 50 mm was reported in the Broadview and Montmartre areas.  Damage from hail was reported in the CDs 1b, 2, and 3ase.  Wind damage was reported in CD 1a.  Damage from flooding was reported in CD 2b. 

Specific hail damage reports include:  up to 100% in places in the Moosomin, Grenfell, and Radville areas, around 10% in the Whitewood area, up to 40% in the Fillmore area, 5% in the Montmartre area, and up to 70% in the Indian Head area.

Crop conditions improved from last week for fall cereals, flax, canola, sunflowers, and canary seed.  Crop conditions deteriorated for durum, triticale, mustard, and chickpeas.  Other crop conditions remained on par with last week.  Fall rye and winter wheat are starting to turn colour in the Moosomin area.  In the Weyburn area some canola and flax crops are done flowering, while others are in full flower.

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland improved this past week with the rain.  Reporters rate 82% of the crop land as having adequate topsoil moisture conditions, compared to 73% last week.  One per cent of the crop land is rated as having very short topsoil moisture.  For hay and pasture land, 71% is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 59% last week.  Three per cent of the hay and pasture land is rated as having very short topsoil moisture.

Insects were the major source of crop damage this past week, with reporters citing damage from wheat midge, aphids, and grasshoppers.  Insecticide spraying was general in many areas.  Cereal fungal diseases including rust, smut, and fusarium caused damage mainly in CDs 1b and 2b, and fungicide applications took place.  Crops are suffering from drought damage in the Gainsborough area, while in the Maryfield area, some crops were showing moisture stress.  Some gopher damage was reported in the Moosomin area.   

First-cut haying operations are moving ahead in the southeast with 37% baled or silaged, up from 23% last week.  Hay quality is generally expected to be good, though swaths are deteriorating because of the recent rainfall.  

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

The past week saw some showers in the southwest, with cooler temperatures.  An average of 15 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 7 mm in CD 4a, to an average high of 24 mm reported in CDs 3bn and 4b.  Hail damage was reported across the region.  Flooding damage was reported in CD 3bs; drought damage was reported in CDs 3asw, 3bs, and 4a; and wind damage was reported in CDs 3bs and 4.  

Specific hail damage reports include:  8% in the Rockglen area, 5 to 40% in the Bengough area, spotty damage in the Gravelbourg area, 20 to 100% in the Kincaid area, 20 to 25% in the Ponteix area, 5 to 100% in the Admiral area, 20 to 100% in the Shaunavon area, 10% in the Rush Lake and Stewart Valley areas, and 60 to 100% in the Maple Creek area.

Crop conditions generally remained constant or deteriorated in the southwest.  Conditions improved for durum and chickpea crops and declined for oat, triticale, flax, canola, mustard, and pea crops.

At this time last year, peas were being combined in the Spring Valley area; winter wheat was being harvested in the Ponteix area, and swathing of fall rye was underway in the Burstall area.  This year fall rye crop that has not been hailed in the Maple Creek areas is almost ready to swath, as is some of the barley.

Crop land topsoil moisture remained similar to the previous week, with 77% of the area reported as having adequate moisture.  Four per cent of the crop land is rated in very short topsoil moisture condition.  For hay and pasture land, 63% is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 66% last week.  Twelve per cent of the hay and pasture land is rated as having very short topsoil moisture.

Grasshoppers, wheat midge, diamondback moth larvae, and gophers caused crop damage in the southwest during the past week.  Ascochyta blight and leaf diseases also caused damage.

Haying operations made some progress with 45% of the first-cut hay either baled or put into silage, up from 26% last week.  Quality is expected to be good, though it will deteriorate if it continues to be rained on.  Some hay swaths were blown around in the Maple Creek area.

Farmers applied fungicide and insecticide. 

East central Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 5 & 6a)

The east central region was wet and humid during the past week, with some storms occurring.  An average of 30 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 25 mm reported in CD 6a, to an average high of 35 mm reported in CD 5a.  Hail damage was reported across the region.  Some flooding was reported in CD 5b and some wind damage occurred in CD 6a.

Specific hail damage reports include:  5% in the Stockholm and Foam Lake areas, 40% in the Neudorf area, extensive in places in the Abernethy area, 10% in the Ituna area, up to 100% in the Semans area, minor damage in the Leroy area, and 10 to 20% in the Humboldt area.  Some information from the Langenburg area from last week - nearly half of R.M 211 was severely damaged by an 8 miles wide hail storm - most of it at 100% loss.  Also last week there was up to 100% hail damage in the Preeceville area.

Crop conditions were maintained or improved from last week with the exception of triticale, which deteriorated slightly.  Winter wheat crops are showing signs of turning in the Semans area.

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland deteriorated slightly, with 84% of the crop, hay and pasture land reported as having adequate moisture.  This compares to 90% and 85% respectively, reported last week.

Insects were the main source of crop damage during the past week, including wheat midge, aphids, flea beetles, grasshoppers, sawflies, and diamondback moth larvae.  Insecticide spraying for wheat midge and flea beetles is underway.  Bertha armyworm moth counts are on the rise in the Kuroki area.  Fungal diseases reported include net blotch, tan spot, and ascochyta blight.  Fungicides are being applied.

First-cut haying operations made some progress, with 16% baled or silaged, up from 7% last week.  Quality is expected to be fair to good, though the showers are reducing the quality of cut hay. 

West central Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 6b & 7)
The west central region was cooler with showers this past week.  An average of 20 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 12 mm reported in CD 6b, to an average high of 25 mm reported in CD 7a.  Over 75 mm fell in the Smiley area.  Hail damage was reported across the region.  Flooding, wind, and drought damage were reported in a few areas.  There were some reports of lodging from the Rosetown and Unity areas.        

Specific hail damage reports include:  2% in the Marengo and Biggar areas, 50% in the Smiley area, 5% in the Kerrobert area, and a trace in the Denzil area.

Crop conditions generally stayed the same or improved during the past week.  Fall rye crops were the only ones to decline in condition.       

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland improved, with 69% of crop land and 57% of hay and pasture land being rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 58% and 45% respectively last week.   

Insect damage came from wheat midge, grasshoppers and root maggots.  Insecticide spraying for wheat midge occurred again this past week, as well as some spraying for grasshoppers.  Diseases reported included smut, ascochyta blight, tan spot, and net blotch.  Some fungicides are being applied.     

The harvest of the 2008 hay crop is the second furthest advanced for the province in the west central area, with 41% baled or silaged, up from 23% last week.  Quality is generally expected to be fair to good.  Hay is expected to be in short supply in some areas and farmers may be cutting crops for greenfeed to sustain their winter feeding program.   

Farmers were also doing chemfallow and tillage.   

North eastern Saskatchewan
(Crop Districts 8 & 9ae)

The north eastern region was cloudy, warm, and rainy this past week.  An average of 26 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 24 mm reported in CD 8a, to an average high of 28 mm reported in CDs 8b and 9ae.  The Middle Lake area reported 70 mm of rain.  There was scattered hail and flooding damage.  Barley was starting to lodge in the Arborfield area from the wind and rain.        

Hail damage of 10% was reported in the Codette area.

Crops held or improved in condition during the past week.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land remained similar to last week with 77% reported as having adequate moisture.  Hay and pasture land improved this past week, with 65% of the land rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with ratings of 61% last week.     

Wheat midge was the main source of crop damage this past week, and farmers were spraying insecticide.  Sclerotinia and leaf diseases were also reported, and some fungicide applications took place.  

Haying operations are coming along with 29% of the 2008 crop baled or silaged, up from 16% last week.  Quality is generally expected to be good. 

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

The north western region was cooler with some showers during the past week.  An average of 26 mm of precipitation was reported ranging from an average low of 24 mm reported in CD 9b, to an average high of 28 mm reported in CD 9aw.  There was some wind, flooding, and hail damage reported.  In some areas, a second growth of crop has started.  The heavy rain lodged crops in the North Battleford area.  

Hail damage of 5% was reported in the North Battleford area, with 10% in the Neilburg area, and 1% in the Glaslyn area.     

Crops that held or improved in condition during the past week were winter wheat, spring wheat, triticale, flax, canola, and peas.  Fall rye, oat, and barley crops lost condition.   

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop, hay, and pasture land improved substantially from last week.  Ninety-four per cent of the crop land is rated as having adequate moisture, compared with 66% last week.  Seventy-seven per cent of the hay and pasture land are rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 65% last week.   

Crop damage came from wheat midge, flea beetles, gophers, mold, ascochyta blight, and sclerotinia.  Farmers were spraying for wheat midge, and applying fungicides.   

The northwest made some progress in haying operations with 24% of the crop baled or silaged, up from 10% last week.  Quality is expected to be fair to good, though continued rain showers on the swaths will reduce quality.  Hay supplies are expected to be tight. 

* missing 1 to 7 days of data

A degree day is defined as a measure of the departure of temperature for a day from some reference temperature.  They are expressed in degrees of temperature.  For plant growth, a base of 5ºC is generally used, although the base varies for each plant species and, in fact, varies throughout the life of the plant from germination to maturity.  By accumulating degree days throughout the growing season, it is possible to forecast harvesting dates.