The seemingly endless rainfall the province was getting took some time off last week, and paired with increased heat, this has accelerated crop advancement and allowed haying operations to move forward.
Crop Extension Specialist from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture Meghan Rosso says fall cereals are 6 per cent ahead of schedule, 90 per cent normal and 4 per cent behind. Pulse crops are 4 per cent ahead, 78 per cent normal, and 18 per cent behind. Spring cereals and oilseeds are still showing to be the furthest behind in their stages of development.
When it comes to haying operations, 26 per cent of the province’s first cut has been baled or silaged.
“Initial reports are estimating provincial hay yields at 1.73 tons per acre. This is above the five-year average of 1.01 tones per acre, and the 10-year average 1.13 tones per acre.”
However, Rosso says there is some evidence of crop damage due to the extreme heat being experienced province wide.
“There are some areas within the province, mainly in the southwest portion of the province along with a few areas in the southeast, that are reporting some minor to moderate crop damage in relation to the lack of moisture occurring in these regions. With the increased heat that is forecasted, this will cause further crop deterioration if moisture is not received.”
Other damaging factors last week included gophers, grasshoppers, hail and wind.
With very few rain showers occurring this past week, the amount of topsoil moisture across the province has been reduced.
Rosso says currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 4 per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and two per cent very short.
“Hay land topsoil moisture is reported at 3 per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and three per cent very short, and pasture topsoil moisture is 3 per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and four per cent very short.”
Looking to the heat forecasted for the week ahead, Rosso says it could specifically impact flowering canola and mustard, as they are very sensitive to high heat at this stage of development.
Last week, producers reported some disease development in pulses and cereals. The drier conditions have helped slow disease development, but the recent humidity does create some favourable conditions for disease.