NORTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN CROP REGION — Light showers this past week did little to combat the hot windy days that crops had to suffer through across the region. Crops in areas that received rain earlier in the season look much better than those that didn’t, but without more rain soon their yield potential will begin to decline in the coming weeks.
Haying has been progressing well in the region and livestock producers currently have 54 per cent of the hay baled or put into silage. An additional 26 per cent is cut and ready for baling. Hay quality is currently rated as 14 per cent excellent, 64 per cent good and 21 per cent fair.
Very little of the northwest received rain this week with most areas of the region receiving less than 10 mm. However, the Duckland area received 32 mm, the Prince Albert area 20 mm, the Turtleford area 18 mm and the Hafford area 12 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 69 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Most of the crop damage this past week was due to heat stress, hail, insects and disease. Several windstorms left crops lodged resulting in lower yields and a more difficult harvest. Field peas are struggling with root rot in wetter more humid areas of the region, producers have been actively applying fungicides to keep other diseases to a minimum.
