A combination of warm and wet growing conditions has allowed crops to develop nicely around the Humboldt area according to the latest Crop Report from the Ministry of Agriculture, but producers have noted some uneven crop staging which is making fungicide timing difficult. Many producers are applying fungicides to crops given the recent environmental conditions.
The northeastern section of the province saw a limited amount of rainfall over the last week. The Annaheim area saw the most rain with 24 mm, followed by the Bruno area with 21 mm.
Topsoil moisture is slightly drier than last week, but levels in the northeast are still some of the highest in the province. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is two per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short, and one per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 70 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short, and two per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil moisture is 65 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short, and two per cent very short.
Crops are in their normal stage of development, but rain will be needed over the next few weeks to continue their development.
Currently:
• Six per cent of winter cereal crops are at the flag leaf stage, 67 per cent are heading, and 27 per cent are in dough stages.
• Two per cent of spring cereal crops are tillering, nine per cent are in stem elongation, 29 per cent are in flag leaf stage, 57 per cent are heading, and three per cent are in dough stages.
• Four per cent of flax is still in seedling stages, 64 per cent are in the stem elongation stage, 30 per cent are flowering, and two per cent are in the boll stage.
• One per cent of canola and mustard are still seedlings, 11 per cent are in the rosette stage, 34 per cent are bolting, and 54 per cent are flowering.
• Ten per cent of pulse crops are in vegetative stages, 81 per cent are flowering, and nine per cent have podded
Some of Saskatchewan’s best pasture conditions are located in the northeast section of the province, Six per cent of pastures are excellent, 46 per cent are good, 33 per cent are fair, 14 per cent are poor, and one per cent are in very poor condition.
Livestock producers are making good haying progress with 32 per cent of hay crops cut and 12 per cent have been baled or silaged. Fifty-six per cent of hay is still standing and will be cut in the coming weeks. Hay quality for the first cut is fairly high, with 14 per cent being excellent quality, 62 per cent good, 22 per cent fair, and only two per cent poor quality.
Dry conditions and hot temperatures have caused minor to moderate damage to crops. Also, wind and excess moisture in low areas caused minor crop damage in some areas last week. In some sections grasshoppers have also caused minor to moderate damage, but it's believed that the grasshoppers aren’t widespread.