According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report for July 22nd to 28th, released on Thursday, southeast producers are hoping for continued rain throughout the region to help lessen the impact of the coming heat on their crop yields, aid hayland regrowth, and improve their pasture lands currently supporting livestock.
Some scattered showers were reported, with a few significant events that produced hail throughout week.
Alida area received the highest amount of rainfall, at 46 mm, while the Carnduff and Oxbow areas received 41 and 38 mm respectively. The Bienfait area received 33 mm, and most other areas within the region received smaller amounts or no rainfall over the past week.
Topsoil moisture conditions declined in spite of the precipitation, with cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 73 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is rated as 69 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and five per cent very short. Similarly, pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 69 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short, and four per cent very short.
Crop conditions in the region have remained relatively steady since last reported, with most of the cereal crops rated to be in good to excellent condition, while flax and canola are mostly rated as fair to good, and mustard as good to excellent. Pulse crops are rated as mostly good to excellent with some rated as fair.
Haying progressed throughout the region this past week with 80 per cent of the crop now cut and 58 per cent baled or put up as silage. Hay quality remains relatively high with a rating of five per cent excellent, 70 per cent good, 23 per cent fair, and only two per cent poor. Operations have been slowed due to the recent rains, but some are moving on to a second cut where conditions allow.
Most crop damage continues to be caused by heat and lack of moisture. Minor damage is also being reported from hail, gophers, grasshoppers, flea beetles, pea leaf weevil, and aphids. Producers have or will be close to completing fungicide applications as the window for application has closed for many crops.
Read about how crops are doing throughout the province HERE.