The majority of crops are in good to excellent condition and at their normal stage of development, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.
Due to favourable growing conditions, 27 per cent of spring wheat, 43 per cent of durum, 26 per cent of canola, 41 per cent of lentils, 38 per cent of peas and 22 per cent of chickpeas are in excellent condition. Approximately 25 per cent of the pulses, oilseeds and spring cereals are ahead of their normal stage of development for this time of year.
Almost all areas of the province reported rain over the past week, with many areas reporting more than 30 mm. The greatest amount of precipitation fell in the Lampman area, where 89 mm was recorded.
Haying is underway. Seven per cent of the hay crop is cut and two per cent is baled. Haying is furthest advanced in Crop District 6B, which has 18 per cent of the hay crop cut. Across the province, hay quality is rated as 19 per cent excellent, 66 per cent good, 14 per cent fair and one per cent poor. Quality is lowest in Crop District 9B, where 45 per cent of the hay is rated as fair, thanks to dry conditions during most of the spring.
Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 10 per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short. Crop District 1A, where 61 per cent of cropland has surplus moisture, has the highest topsoil moisture rating. Crop districts 7B and 9B have the lowest topsoil moisture ratings — 37 per cent and 29 per cent short, respectively.
Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Very little crop damage is being reported, with disease and flooding causing the majority of damage. Hail was reported in a few areas of the province, but damage looks to be quite minimal at this time. Weed control operations are nearing completion. Producers are scouting for disease, applying fungicides and cutting hay.
Follow the 2016 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
