Producers are doing their best to gauge the progress of their crops judging by the latest local crop report. With seeds in the ground the focus has turned to crop development, and the fact that growing conditions have deteriorated rapidly over the past few weeks severely affecting topsoil moisture levels.
The latest west-central Saskatchewan crop report for the period of June 3-9 noted cropland topsoil moisture at 18 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 29 per cent very short, hayland topsoil moisture rate at 11 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 38 per cent very short, and then pasture topsoil moisture is reading 11 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 40 per cent very short.
The continued drought like conditions is playing a big part in the lack of moisture. Any notable rain fall came towards the east side of the region with Harris receiving 14 mm. Further west, Rosetown and Major each noted nine mm of rain. The report shared that with this trend producers are not optimistic about their potential if something doesn't change soon.
Due to dry and windy conditions crops are noted as advancing quickly at the moment with the following Ministry breakdown available below:
- Sixty-eight per cent of winter cereals are in the flag leaf stage and 32 per cent are heading.
- Seven per cent of spring cereals are at the pre-emergent stage, 44 per cent at the seedling stage, 44 per cent are at tillering, four per cent are at stem elongation and one per cent is at the flag leaf stage.
- Five per cent of pulse crops are at the pre-emergent stage with 49 per cent at the seedling stage and 46 per cent at the vegetative stage of development.
- Fourteen per cent of canola and mustard are at the pre-emergent stage, 74 per cent are at the seedling stage and 12 per cent at the rosette stage.
- Eight per cent of the flax is at the pre-emergent stage with 79 per cent at the seedling stage and 13 per cent starting stem elongation.
Frost was also noticed during the week to join weather related damage. Outside of that flea beetles and grasshoppers are causing issues with control measures being put into place, but for the most part only minor damage has been noted regarding pests.
The rest of the province has caught up to the 100 per cent seeded mark and are watching the moisture situation closely just like local producers to get an idea of how their growing season will end up. Check out the complete provincial update HERE.