EAST CENTRAL — Livestock producers continue to make good haying progress province wide as 39 per cent of the hay crop is baled or put into silage. As of the period from July 32 to 29, additional 27 per cent is cut and ready for baling.
Northeast Saskatchewan
Haying is progressing well in the region as 47 per cent of the hay has been baled or put into silage, with an additional 36 per cent cut and ready for baling. Hay quality is rated as six per cent excellent, 59 per cent good, 29 per cent fair and six per cent poor. Many producers have indicated that hay yields are below average as swaths are below normal in size. Additionally, there will not be a second cut due to lack of early-season moisture and plant growth. Some producers are sourcing feed.
Scattered rain showers brought varying amounts of rain to the region. Rainfall received ranged from nil to 40 millimetres in the Nipawin area. The Hudson Bay are reported 18 millimetres, the Porcupine Plain and Arborfield areas 20 millimetres, the Humboldt area 3 millimetres and Kinistino area 6 millimetres. The Nipawin area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (321 millimetres). Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 90 per cent adequate and five per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Throughout the region crops are in fair-to-good condition, while some crops remain in poor condition and some excellent. Producers have indicated that some crops are one-to-two weeks behind in development and depending on when the first fall frost occurs and weather conditions during harvest, this may be a concern.
The majority of crop damage this past week was from strong winds, insects and a lack of moisture. Producers are busy hauling grain, haying, repairing equipment and scouting for disease and insects.
East Central Saskatchewan
Livestock producers now have 33 per cent of the hay baled or put into silage, with an additional 31 per cent cut and ready for baling. Hay quality is rated as 57 per cent good, 20 per cent fair and 23 per cent poor. Hay yields are well-below average and most producers have indicated that that there will not be a second cut due to lack of early-season moisture and plant growth. Producers are also sourcing feed.
Precipitation this past week ranged from nil to 23 millimetres in the Kenaston area. The Lipton area received 15 millimetres, the Raymore area 10 millimetres, the Rams area 14 millimetres and the Allan and area south of Humboldt 6 millimetres. The Ituna area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (293 millimetres). Across the region, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 84 per cent adequate and 16 per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 75 per cent adequate and 25 per cent short.
The condition of most crops across the region is fair-to-good, some crops remain in poor condition and some are reported to be excellent at this time. Producers have reported that some crops are one-to-two weeks behind in development; depending on when the first fall frost occurs and weather during harvest, this may be a concern. Despite some crops being behind in development, producers have noted that pulse crops will be desiccated in the coming week or so.
The sources of crop damage this week were strong winds and a lack of moisture. Producers are scouting for pests, haying and getting equipment prepared for harvest.
The crop report is provided weekly by the Government of Saskatchewan
