Scattered rainfall across southeast Saskatchewan has slowed crop development, but producers say the moisture could benefit later-seeded fields, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s latest report.
Producers are hoping for warm, dry weather to help crops continue growing. Many areas received notable rainfall, replenishing soil moisture levels. Currently, cropland topsoil is 13 per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, and 17 per cent short. Hayland topsoil shows 11 per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, and 18 per cent short. Pastures have 78 per cent adequate topsoil moisture, 18 per cent short, and four per cent very short.
Some crops are reaching maturity, with one per cent of crops, mainly winter cereals, already harvested. So far, 17 per cent of fall rye and 12 per cent of winter wheat have been harvested. Pulse crops are also starting to come off, with three per cent of lentils and two per cent of field peas harvested. Many producers have not yet started harvesting but are preparing machinery and desiccating crops.
Livestock producers have largely finished haying and silaging. Dryland alfalfa yielded 1.41 tons per acre, tame hay 1.25 tons per acre, and greenfeed 1.80 tons per acre on average. Irrigated hay crops yielded slightly higher: alfalfa and tame hay averaged two tons per acre, while greenfeed reached four tons per acre. Silage crops in the southeast reported some of the highest yields in the province, averaging 6.82 tons per acre.
Crop damage last week was mostly due to environmental conditions. Abundant rain caused minor damage in low-lying areas, isolated hailstorms affected a few crops, and strong winds caused minor lodging in some