Crops across the province are toughing it out after thunderstorms swept through some areas while the southern areas dealt with hot, dry, and windy conditions.
The provincial crop report, released Thursday morning, said thunderstorms brought moisture to crops as well as hail. Producers are checking for crop damage from the hail and whether it impacted yield potential. There were varying degrees of damage from hail in many areas.
Archerwill reported the most rainfall at 115 millimetres, followed by the Beatty area with 85 mm, the Kinistino area with 75 mm, and the Middle Lake area with 65 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions declined despite the rain in some areas. Cropland soil moisture is rated at two per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short, and 9 per cent very short; for hay crops, moisture is two per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 17 per cent very short; and moisture for pasture land is one per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short, and 23 per cent very short.
Hail wasn't the only factor of crop damage, according to the crop report. Heat and wind caused the most widespread damage, while grasshoppers and flea beetles caused minor damage in dry areas this past week. Pockets of the west-central, east-central, and northeast regions reported minor crop damage in low spots as a result of the excessive moisture from thunderstorms.
Crop conditions also varied around the province due to the amount of rain and the timing of it so far this year. The report states: "Approximately half of fall and spring cereal crops are in good condition, with most of the other half in fair to poor condition. For pulses, half to two-thirds of crops are in good condition, with most of the rest in fair condition. Finally, most oilseed crops are in fair to good condition at the end of June."
Crop development remains ahead of schedule despite the weather, as fall cereal, spring cereal, and pulse crops are the most advanced while oilseed and annual forage crops are the furthest behind but ahead compared to the same time period last year. Crops in the southwest and northwest regions are the furthest developed due to hot and dry conditions, while crops in the central regions are behind.
Meanwhile, livestock producers have started to cut their first hay crops with about ten per cent of it cut, 84 per cent still standing, and six per cent baled or in silage. The report notes hay quality varies with 12 per cent of hay in excellent quality, 43 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and 11 per cent in poor quality. More rain is needed in order to get a second cut of hay.
As livestock producers are cutting hay and checking fences as livestock in pasture, grain farmers are now focusing on scouting crops and spraying for insects and disease when necessary, after completing herbicide applications. More rain will be needed over the next two months for crops to sustain yield potential into the harvest season.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture reminds producers that the Farm Stress Line is available and can call toll free at 1-800-667-4442.
You can find a regional breakdown of the crop report by clicking the link below.
