Most of the province received rain this week, improving moisture conditions, especially in the southern and west-central regions that received higher amounts. Some of the northern parts of the province have reported localized flooding and standing water in fields. The majority of crops in the province are in fair to excellent condition.
Provincially, 67 per cent of fall cereals, 72 per cent of spring cereals, 65 per cent of oilseed crops and 81 per cent of pulse crops are at normal stages of development for this time of year. Rainfall in the province ranged from trace amounts to 75 mm in the Macklin area.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and five per cent very short.
Haying is just starting in the province. Livestock producers now have one per cent of the hay crop cut and one per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is rated as eight per cent excellent, 59 per cent good, 24 per cent fair and nine per cent poor. Farmers hope that the recent rain will improve crop and future pasture growth, especially in the areas that received little rain prior to this week.
The majority of crop damage this week was from flooding mostly in the northern regions, dry conditions mostly in the southern and east-central regions, wind, insect and animal feeding, and disease.
Farmers are busy finishing up in-crop herbicide applications, hauling grain, scouting for insect and disease pests, applying fertilizer, fixing equipment and beginning haying in some areas.
A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.
Follow the 2020 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
