.jpg)
Producers here in the southeast have one percent of the crop in the bin so far this season.
According to the Weekly Crop Report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture for the week of July 30th to August 5th, most producers are now getting their harvest equipment ready and are dessicating pulse crops.
While one percent of harvest doesn't sound like a lot, the progress has been mainly seeing pulse crops and winter cereals coming up in the region. This includes 23 percent of the fall rye crop, 15 percent of field peas, 10 percent for both lentils and chickpeas, six percent of winter wheat, and five percent of the barley crop.
Haying operations in the region are nearly complete, with no second cut potential this year due to the lack of rainfall. Rain was variable, however, with most areas receiving little to no rainfall, and the highest rainfall was recorded in the Balcarres area at 20 mm, followed by the Esterhazy area at 12 mm, and the Ituna area at 10 mm.
Although rainfall would be too late for advanced crops, producers within the region would welcome rain to help with grain fill and bushel weight on later seeded crops.
Dryland alfalfa yields are estimated to be 2.46 tons per acre with greenfeed estimated at 2.31 tons per acre and tame hay estimated at 1.62 tons per acre. Irrigated alfalfa is estimated to be 2.50 tons per acre. Silage yields are estimated to be 6.88 tons per acre within the region.
With the persistent dry and hot conditions, topsoil moisture continues to decline. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 26 percent adequate, 53 percent short and 21 percent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at 25 percent adequate, 55 percent short, and 20 percent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 20 percent adequate, 57 percent short and 23 percent very short.
The lack of moisture and heat continues to be the main causes of crop damage throughout the region. Wind, aphids, gophers, and grasshoppers also caused crop damage over the past week with overall minor damage reported. As canola continues to mature, producers are observing sclerotinia stem rot emerging in their fields along with aborted pod development due to the extreme heat encountered during flowering.