Crop Report 2009 Crop Report for the Period June 30 to July 6, 2009
Crop development has improved considerably across the province, thanks to the warm weather and moisture of the last two weeks, but the majority of crops are still behind normal in development, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report. Seventy per cent of fall cereals are in the heading stage, while 17 per cent are already in the dough stage. Only 11 per cent of fall cereals are in the shot-blade stage. Thirty-six per cent of the spring cereals are in the shot-blade stage, with 17 and 38 per cent in the tillering and jointed stages, respectively. Twenty-eight per cent of canola and mustard is in the flowering stage, while 54 per cent is in the rosette stage and 16 per cent is still in the seedling stage. In pulse crops, 40 per cent is in the flowering stage, while 57 per cent is in the vegetative stage. Provincial topsoil moisture conditions have declined slightly since last week. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported as 57 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hay land and pasture moisture conditions are reported as 47 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 11 per cent very short. Varying amounts of precipitation-ranging from light showers to hail and thunderstorms-were received across the province. While some areas have received adequate rainfall, many areas still need rain to improve moisture conditions. In the west-central region, precipitation varied from nil to 30 mm, and hay yields and quality are reported as below normal. Eleven per cent of hay has been cut, while 84 per cent is still standing. Four per cent of the hay has already been baled or ensiled. The quality of the majority of the hay is reported as good to fair. Dry conditions continue to be the largest single cause of crop damage. Grasshoppers and gophers are also causing damage in the south, southwest and northwest. Cutworm and flea beetle damage is still evident in the north. Hail damage accounted for five per cent of crop damage.
South eastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 1, 2, and 3ASE Topsoil moisture conditions have declined from last week as conditions are being reported as 47 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short, and 6 per cent very short on crop land. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture conditions are 36 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Most of the crop damage was caused by dry conditions, flea beetles, grasshoppers, gophers and hail. Some farmers are spraying for grasshoppers in lentils. Some ranchers are planning to sell off some of their cows. Crops are advancing but uneven and behind.
South western Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 3ASW, 3AN, 3B and 4) Topsoil moisture conditions have improved from last week. Cropland topsoil moisture was reported as 65 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and five per cent very short. Topsoil moisture conditions on hay and pasture land are rated as 48 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. The majority of crop damage this past week was attributed to gophers, grasshoppers and dry conditions. Cabbage seedpod weevils and flea beetles were reported in a couple of RMs (109 and 134, respectively). Gopher poisoning continues. Many farmers were spraying for grasshoppers.
East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 5 and 6A)
Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are reported as 59 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are 48 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Crop damage was mostly due to dry and windy conditions, as well as some insect (flea beetles and wire worms) damage. Crops are progressing but behind.
West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B and 7)
Average topsoil moisture conditions have declined since last week. The area is so severely dry that good rains are needed to improve crop, hay and pasture lands. Cropland moisture conditions are rated as 34 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is sitting at 28 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Crop damage was mainly due to dry conditions. Some grasshopper (RM 288 & 317B) and gopher damage (RM 350B) was also reported. Crop development varies from poor to good and ranchers are scrambling for hay. Varying crop stages are posing a dilemma in herbicide application.
North eastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 8 and 9AE) Cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 63 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture conditions are 44 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. The majority of crop damage was caused by cutworms and dry conditions. Some flea beetle damage was also reported in RM 372. Reports indicate delayed development of crops and the need for both rain and heat.
North western Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 9AW and 9B) Crop land topsoil moisture conditions for this region have declined since last week's report and are reported as 82 per cent adequate and 17 per cent short. The hay and pasture topsoil moisture conditions declined from last week and are reported as 74 per cent adequate and 26 per cent short. The majority of crop damage this week was caused by hail followed by grasshoppers. Isolated cases of flooding, gophers and flea beetles were also reported. Crops are improving, though behind in development.
Haying progress and quality - First cut
Prov. = Provincial average; Excel = Excellent; and NR = Not reported
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||