NORTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN — Crop District 9AW – Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas;
Crop District 9B – Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster areas
Another week of hot temperatures has made some crops begin to rapidly advance their development; some canola has experienced heat blasting which will lower yield potential. The temperatures have helped producers with their haying operations and many were able to make great progress.
There wasn’t much rainfall this week across the region but the Duck Lake area did receive 99 mm over the course of the week, resulting in some flooding in that area with low areas collecting and holding water. Crops that are now sitting in water will quickly deteriorate unless the water is absorbed quickly.
Cropland topsoil moisture is now rated as 18 per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate and 29 per cent short and one per cent very short
Livestock producers currently have 30 per cent of the hay crop cut and 25 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is rated as 23 per cent excellent, 69 per cent good and eight per cent fair.
Most crop damage this past week was due to strong winds and heat. Producers are busy haying and spraying fungicides on fields that are experiencing higher risk of fungal disease.
Provincial overview
Crops continue to advance quickly throughout the province due to hot, humid days over the past few weeks. The humidity has slowed haying. When humidity is high, cutting hay becomes more challenging and hay that is cut does not dry down as quickly, which can result in lower quality feed. Canola across the province has suffered from the heat and humidity. Many producers are reporting that their crops have experienced heat blasting and are worried about the effect it will have on their yields. If the heat continues with minimal rainfall, crops will be ready for harvest sooner than normal, similar to the 2021 harvest. Many areas in the province experienced wild weather systems this past week with hail, thunderstorms and even tornados occurring leaving crops, buildings and trees damaged.
Provincially, 74 per cent of the fall cereals, 65 per cent of the spring cereals, 61 per cent of the oilseeds and 74 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Producers have indicated that cereals are heading out and are hopeful that the head will fill now that moisture is adequate in many areas. Canola is flowering and podding throughout the province.
Several localized storms resulted in some damage from lodging and minor flooding. The Duck Lake area reported 99 mm of rain over only two days while the Earl Grey area received 78 mm over the course of the week.
For many producers in areas that have dealt with dry conditions since the beginning of the growing season, the rain will not improve their crops at this time. However, the moisture will increase their ability for a second cut of hay and will improve their pasture conditions.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and eight per cent very short.
Haying was slowed for some, due to some rainstorms and high humidity days but overall haying is going well. Livestock producers now have 41 per cent of the hay crop cut and 32 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as 24 per cent excellent, 52 per cent good, 24 per cent fair and nine per cent poor.
Hay yields will be reported on next week; however, it is expected that due to dry conditions of the early part of the growing season, hay yields will be lower than average for some producers.
Crop damage this past week was attributed to localized hail, strong winds, lack of moisture, heat, flooding, grasshoppers and gophers. Many producers will be assessing which of their fields are worth the effort and cost of spraying for grasshoppers while fields that are in poor in condition will most likely be cut as greenfeed.
