Thanks to continued precipitation and warm weather, crop growth and development in most parts of the province are well ahead of normal, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.
Overall, 99 per cent of fall cereals, 96 per cent of pulse crops, 95 per cent of spring cereals and 94 per cent of oilseeds are at or ahead of their normal stage of development for this time of year. The majority of the crops are in good-to-excellent condition.
Most of the province received rain during the past week, ranging from trace amounts to 80 mm, with the average being 25 mm. Across the province, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as six per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short.
Topsoil moisture is lowest in Crop District 4B in the southwest (38 per cent short on cropland and 45 per cent short on hay land and pasture), while the wettest crop district is CD2B in the southeast, where 26 per cent of cropland and 20 per cent of hay land and pasture have surplus topsoil moisture.
Rainy and windy conditions hampered weed control operations in some areas of the province. While excess moisture is causing concerns in some areas, less than two per cent of the province’s cropland and pasture is considered flooded. On the other hand, four per cent of seeded acres, nine per cent of forage land and 12 per cent of pasture is considered to be under low-moisture stress.
Producers are shifting from spraying for weeds to spraying for diseases and are starting to cut hay.
Follow the 2016 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
