The cooler temperatures lately have allowed local producers to make progress with haying operations and fungicide applications, according to the most recent crop report released by the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
Producers will now move into the remainder of the growing season monitoring for the development of pests or disease, while also preparing equipment for the upcoming harvest season.
There were varying amounts of rain across the southeast with the majority falling in the northern part of the region. Rain is needed to support continued crop development and maintain topsoil moisture; the cooler temperatures were an asset to topsoil moisture as well.
Current cropland topsoil moisture levels are rated as mostly adequate, at 67 percent. Just over half of hayland topsoil moisture is reported as adequate at 55 percent, similar to pasture topsoil moisture, which is reported at 56 percent adequate.
Most crops are developing normally at this stage in the growing season, with 87 to 88 percent of each crop variety reported at the normal stage of development, except for oilseeds, with only 78 percent estimated to be at the normal stage and 18 percent behind. Crop conditions are reported as mainly good.
Haying operations are making good progress, with 63 percent of the hay crop receiving its first cut and 36 percent baled or silaged. As for quality, the majority of hay is rated as good at 52 percent and 14 percent rated as excellent.
Most crop damage can be attributed to environmental conditions including heat, lack of moisture, wind, and hail alongside damage from gophers. Other threats being monitored by producers include aphid and cabbage seedpod weevil pressure in their fields. Some disease has been noted, with producers applying fungicides to suppress already present disease, and spraying to manage disease from developing.