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Crop Report 2008 Crop Report September 28, 2008
Harvest is furthest advanced in the northeast where 89 per cent of the crop is off, and is least advanced in the northwest where 67 per cent of the crop is off. Crops that were damaged by hail throughout the province continue to be slow to ripen, causing some delay in progress. Harvest progress for the major crops shows spring wheat and durum at 83 per cent complete, canola at 79 per cent, and lentils and peas at 99 per cent. During the past week, crop damage was mainly caused by wind, rain, and frost. Reporters raised concerns with sprouting and bleaching of crops. Migratory waterfowl and wild game also caused some crop damage. Thirty-five per cent of the province's pastures are reported in good to excellent condition, down from 45 per cent at the end of August. While 82 per cent of the pastures have adequate water available for livestock, some reporters in the southern part of the province indicated that sloughs and dugouts are low or empty.
South eastern Saskatchewan Weather in the south eastern region started off wet, but the weather became more settled, though windier as the week progressed. An average of 6 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average high of 11 mm in CD (Crop District) 2b. Upwards of 30 and 40 mm was received in an area north of Regina. Wind damage was reported across the region, with reports of damage mainly to canola and flax crops. Downgrading of crops, including bleaching and sprouting, were reported. Any barley combined in the Montmartre area in the last two weeks was grading feed because of sprouting. There was frost damage reported in the Montmartre and Marquis areas. Eighty-three per cent of the 2008 south eastern crop has been combined and a further 13% is lying in the swath or is ready to be straight-combined. Grain has been placed on the ground in some areas because of lack of storage facilities. Topsoil moisture on crop land is similar to last week with 81% of the crop land rated as having adequate moisture conditions. For hay and pasture land, 83% is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 86% last week. Fifty-four per cent of the south eastern pastures are rated in good to excellent condition, compared to 61% at the end of August. Reporters indicate that 82% of the pastures in the region have adequate supplies of water for livestock. Crop District 2a has the highest rating of inadequate water supplies in the region with over one-third of the pastures short of water, and livestock owners are hauling water. Insects reported included sawflies and grasshoppers. Current grasshopper numbers are leading to concerns for next year. Ergot was present in the Montmartre, Fillmore, Radville, and Ceylon areas. In the Montmartre area, much of the durum crop was downgraded as low as a CWAD 5 because of ergot. Farmers were spraying herbicides, baling, fencing, harrowing, hauling bales, moving grain, and baling slough hay. There continued to be some seeding of fall crops. Emerging winter wheat in the Montmartre area is reported to look great.
South western Saskatchewan The southwest had a nice fall week, with cool nights and some wind and frost. An average of 3 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average high of 7 mm in CD 3asw. Over 25 mm was reported in the Rockglen area. Frost damage was reported in the Lisieux, Ponteix, and Vanguard areas. Wind caused damage in the Assiniboia, Viceroy, and Lafleche areas. Rain caused crop damage in the Fife Lake, Rockglen, Shaunavon, and Consul areas. Concern was expressed over lodging, sprouting, and bleaching. Eighty-seven per cent of the 2008 south western crop has been harvested and a further 9% is lying in the swath or is ready to be straight-combined. The Bengough area was experiencing above-average yields but below-average quality. The Rush Lake area is expecting a below-average crop with some quality problems. This week will mark eight weeks since some farmers in the Ponteix area started combining. Hailed re-growth is causing the delay for many. Others are waiting for green kochia to dry down before combining the crop. Topsoil moisture conditions are similar to last week. Seventy-one per cent of the crop land and 59% of the hay and pastureland are rated as having adequate topsoil moisture. Some farmers are buying lifters to help harvest the sawfly damaged wheat. Grasshoppers were eating emerging fall crops. Some re-seeding is expected to take place. Pasture conditions in the southwest are better than they were in late August, with 43% of the reporters rating pastures as good to excellent, compared to 29% at the end of August. Some cattle are being let out into harvested fields. Livestock water availability has dropped somewhat from late August. Reporters rate 63% of the pastures as having adequate water supplies, compared to 68% in late August. Some livestock owners are hauling water for their stock. Some are drilling wells. Snow is needed for spring run-off in many areas. Farmers are spraying, hauling bales, burning and working sloughs, baling straw, moving grain, and cleaning corrals. Winter wheat has is emerging in the Bengough, Lafleche, Admiral, Maple Creek, and Burstall areas. Some farmers continue to seed fall rye and winter wheat.
East central Saskatchewan The east central region was moist at the beginning of the week, but good drying weather came later in the week. An average of 6 mm of precipitation was reported for the region, with an average high of 8 mm in CD 6a. Frost damage was reported in the Langenburg, Jedburgh, Foam Lake, and Semans areas. There was some wind damage, including scattering of swaths, in the Quill Lake area and throughout much of CD 6a. There was some spotty hail damage to crops in the Bulyea area. Reporters also indicated sprouting and bleaching. Seventy-nine per cent of the 2008 east central crop has been harvested and a further 18% is lying in the swath or is ready to be straight-combined. Hail damaged crops continue to be slow to mature. In the Yorkton area, some pea crops were low yielding due to damage from the rains in August. In the Quill Lake area, grain was being put in storage bags and on the ground. Area topsoils have dried since last week. Seventy-four per cent of the crop land and 57% of the hay and pasture land are rated as having adequate topsoil, compared with 86% and 68%, respectively, last week. In the Kelvington area, farmers are not applying fertilizer because the soil is too dry. Crop damage came from migratory birds and wild game in the Ituna, Goodeve, Jedburgh, Lintlaw, and Nokomis areas. There was some ergot in wheat in the Allan area. Pasture conditions in the east central region deteriorated from late August, with 28% of the pastures rated in good to excellent condition, compared to 46% at the end of August. Some cattlemen are moving their cows out to stubble fields. Ninety-five per cent of the pastures have adequate water supplies for livestock. Winter cereals were seeded in the Jedburgh area. Winter wheat was emerging in the Quill Lake and Holdfast areas. Fewer acres of winter wheat were planted in the Nokomis area due to the lateness of the canola harvest. Farmers were baling, hauling bales, spraying, cutting wild hay, burning flax bales, moving grain, harrowing, and soil testing. Some grain had heated in storage in the Lumsden area.
West central Saskatchewan The west central region was cooler at the beginning of the week and generally turned warmer and windier as the week progressed. An average of 2 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average high of 4 mm in CD 6b. Wind damage was reported in the Hanley and Outlook areas. Frost damage was reported in the Biggar, Kerrobert, Tramping Lake, Cando, and Battleford areas. There was some hail damage in the Outlook area. Eighty-four per cent of the 2008 west central crop has been harvested and a further 12% is lying in the swath or is ready to be straight-combined. Drying and curing of late and green crops is slow. Some farmers are running out of crop storage space in the Cando area. Topsoil moisture conditions declined during the past week. Thirty-nine per cent of crop land is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 54% last week. Thirty per cent of the hay and pasture land is rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 41% last week. Large cracks are showing up in the ground in the Biggar area. Grasshoppers damaged fall-seeded crops in the Harris area. Ergot was found in wheat in the Harris and Luseland areas. Pasture conditions in the west central region have deteriorated since late August, with 19% of the pastures rated as good to excellent, compared to 35% at the end of August. Some cattle are being fed on pastures in the Conquest area. Livestock water availability has also deteriorated since the end of August. Currently, crop reporters indicate that 84% of pastures have adequate water supplies, compared with 92% a month earlier. Farmers are hauling bales, weaning calves, spraying, baling, harrowing, and delivering grain where they can.
North eastern Saskatchewan The north eastern region had a windy, sunny week. An average of 4 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average high of 8 mm in CD 9ae. Wind damage was reported in the Tisdale, Humboldt, Alvena, and Hoey areas, mostly to canola swaths. Eighty-nine per cent of the 2008 north eastern crop has been combined and a further 10% is lying in the swath or is ready to be straight-combined. In the Porcupine Plain area, farmers have grain piled on the ground while waiting for faster movement of grain through the transportation system. Topsoil moisture conditions have deteriorated during the past week. Thirty-two per cent of the crop land and 27% of the hay and pasture land were rated as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared with 55% and 43%, respectively, last week. Rain is needed in the Star City area for fall fertilizer application, weed spraying, and pastures. Pasture conditions in the northeast region are poorer, with 20% of the pastures rated as good to excellent, compared to 53% at the end of August. Livestock water availability is the same as late August, with almost all reporters rating water supplies as adequate. Farmers were harrowing, baling straw, and spraying.
North western Saskatchewan The north western region was cool and generally dry during the past week. An average of 1 mm of precipitation was reported. Frost damage was reported in the Radisson area, while wind damage was reported in the Radisson, Turtleford, and Rapid View areas. Sixty-seven per cent of the 2008 north western crop has been harvested and a further 29% is lying in the swath or is ready to be straight-combined. Later crops are slow to cure with the cool temperatures. Some grain was piled on the ground in the Turtleford area due to better than expected yields and limited delivery opportunities Topsoil conditions are drier compared to last week. Fifty per cent of the crop land is rated as having adequate moisture, compared with 65% last week. For hay and pasture land, 39% is rated as having adequate moisture, compared to 52% last week. Dry conditions in the Glaslyn area make for a dangerous fire hazard situation. It is also very dry in the Duck Lake area. Pasture conditions in the northwest region are poorer than they were in late August, with 15% of the pastures rated as good to excellent, compared with 50% a month ago. Livestock water availability is also poorer than a month ago, with reporters indicating that 88% of pastures have adequate water supplies, compared with 94% in late August. Farmers are baling straw and hauling bales. Seeding of winter wheat is almost complete in the Lloydminster area.
Terry Bedard, P.Ag. Agricultural Economist Policy Branch Ministry of Agriculture 306-787-5956
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