REGINA — Harvest has just begun in the province. These few fields are mainly in west central and southwest regions where crops are further ahead in development. Parts of these regions received rainfall and this has delayed further harvest activities such as combining and desiccating.
In the eastern regions harvest is at least seven-10 days away, since crops are behind in development and in some areas are just now beginning to fill with seed, although some earlier seeded crops are close to being ready for desiccation.
Rainfall varied significantly across the province last week with some areas getting nothing and others experiencing large, localized storms that resulted in flooding and crop damage. The Unity area received 53 mm, the Briercrest area 49 mm, the Avonlea area 40 mm, the Mayfair area 37 mm, the Lake Lenore area 24 mm, the Bulyea area 17 mm and the Swift Current area 9 mm.
Even with the rainfall received this past week, topsoil moisture across the province continues to decline slightly. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and 13 per cent very short.
After receiving much more rain than last year, pastures in some areas of the province have recovered from the 2021 drought and pasture condition ratings have improved tremendously. Pasture conditions are rated as 16 per cent excellent, 41 per cent good, 25 per cent fair, 12 per cent poor and 6 per cent very poor. Many pastures in the west still had cattle pulled off due to a lack of vegetation or dried up water sources.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to minor flooding, drought, disease, wind, grasshoppers and hail. Several storms crossed the province over the last week leaving behind some substantial crop damage. Some crops were laid down and lodged by strong winds and heavy rain while others were destroyed by hail. Hailstorms damaged crops from Marengo all the way to east of Lake Diefenbaker; buildings, machinery and vehicles were also damaged.
Southeastern Saskatchewan
Crop District 1 – Carnduff, Estevan, Redvers, Moosomin and Kipling areas;
Crop District 2 – Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina and Qu'Appelle areas;
Crop District 3ASE – Radville, Minton and Lake Alma areas
Harvest has not begun as crops are behind their normal development due to late seeding dates and cool rainy weather delaying growth. Any rain now will keep crops from drying up on hot windy days and will allow crops to fill their pods or heads with seed. Other crops that are still flowering need some warm sunny days to quicken their maturity. Earlier seeded crops are still not ready for harvest, but some are ready for desiccation and producers will be conducting those activities in the coming week. Yield estimates have not been finalized for the region, however many producers are expecting a far better crop in comparison to 2021.
The Briercrest area received 49 mm of rain last week, the Bienfait and Avonlea areas 40 mm and the Glenavon and Odessa areas 20 mm. While this rain has delayed haying operations in the region, it is very good for crops as they carry out seed filling before beginning to ripen for harvest. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as twelve per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, five per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 87 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short.
After receiving early season moisture in the form of snow and rain, along with regular rainfall since April 1, many pastures in the region have greatly improved and are now able to support cattle without issue. Pasture conditions are rated as 41 per cent excellent, 46 per cent good, eleven per cent fair, one per cent poor and one per cent very poor.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to heavy rain, wind, hail and grasshoppers. Strong winds and heavy rains resulted in some crop lodging, this will make harvest more difficult and possibly reduce quality of harvested seed. A hailstorm hit the northwest corner of the region and resulted in damage to crops, buildings and equipment.
Producers are busy finishing up haying and starting to gear up for harvest even if it is a few weeks away. Many producers will be starting their applications of desiccants in the coming week or so to prep crops for harvest.
Southwestern Saskatchewan
Crop District 3ASW – Coronach, Assiniboia and Ogema areas;
Crop District 3AN – Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach and Central Butte areas;
Crop District 3B – Kyle, Swift Current, Shaunavon and Ponteix areas;
Crop District 4 – Consul, Maple Creek and Leader areas
Some producers in the region have begun to harvest crops, mainly winter cereals and pulse crops such as lentils and field peas. Rain will not be enough for the crops in the region. However, it would help pastures and hay land recover in hopes they would be able to sustain some fall grazing. Some cereal crops in the region are too poor to be harvested so they will likely be cut for feed as the hay yields in many parts of the region were very poor.
The southwest region did not receive widespread significant rainfall this week, but producers will take all they can. The Moose Jaw area received 30 mm, the Rockglen area 18 mm, the Gouldtown area 14 mm and the Swift Current area nine mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 34 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 20 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 40 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are rated as one per cent excellent, 19 per cent good, 29 per cent fair, 35 per cent poor and 17 per cent very poor. Producers in the region hope for more rain to help support pasture growth and recharge water sources for cattle. Some have noted concern for winter feed shortages due to reduced hay yields.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to drought, heat, wind and hail. A large hailstorm passed through the region destroying several fields and leaving many more severely damaged. Grasshoppers also continue to wreak havoc on crops in the region, some have lost a considerable amount of their fields to insect pests.
East-Central Saskatchewan
Crop District 5 – Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas;
Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas
Harvest has not commenced in the region as crops are late due to delayed seeding in the spring and excess moisture slowing down development. Crops on lighter soils have begun to dry down and producers expect these crops to be ready for harvest in about one to two weeks. Producers will begin desiccating crops as soon as they are ready so that they may dry down faster and make harvest less difficult.
Rainfall this week kept crops on lighter sandier soils from drying down prematurely and helped pastures. The Rhein and Wadena areas received 43 mm, the Langenburg area 27 mm, the Calder area 19 mm and the Bulyea area 17 mm. While many parts of the region have not suffered from lack of rain, others have missed the rains over the past weeks and are becoming quite dry. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and four per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are rated as 20 per cent excellent, 51 per cent good, 23 per cent fair, three per cent poor and three per cent very poor. More adequate soil moisture this year has allowed pastures to recover from the stress of last year’s drought and producers are very happy with how their grasslands look.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to thunderstorms that brought strong winds, heavy rains and hail which left many crops damaged in their wake. Localized flooding resulted where heavy rains occurred which also caused cereal crops to become lodged. Some producers who are struggling to keep pea aphids under economic thresholds in their pulse crops, will continue to spray for aphids until their crops are near to the point where they can be harvested.
West-Central Saskatchewan
Crop Districts 6B – Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas;
Crop District 7A – Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major;
Crop District 7B - Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar areas
Harvest of winter cereals and pulse crops has just begun in the region. In the driest areas of the region, crops are struggling through the hot weather and have begun to rapidly mature. Producers can no longer wait and must begin to harvest the ripest of their crops. In areas that were lucky to receive some timely rains the crops do not appear to have suffered as much although they still are not expected to yield well. The recent rain may help later seeded crops, but most crops are so far along that any rain now will not improve their conditions.
The rain received this past week will hopefully give pastures and hay land some relief and allow for some regrowth. This would give producers the chance to fall graze some of their land. The Unity area received 53 mm, the Dinsmore area 46 mm, and the Smiley and Rosetown areas 11 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 65 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 53 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and eight per cent very short.
Warm, dry conditions are drying down pastures in the region and producers are hoping for more rain to help rejuvenate pasture growth. Pasture conditions are rated as 34 per cent good, 44 per cent fair, 18 per cent poor and four per cent very poor.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to drought, heat, wind and hail. Large swaths of the region were rocked by hail storms this past week leaving many fields cut right down to nothing. Grasshoppers are still large contributors to crop damage as well. Producers have sprayed multiple times to keep them under control but in some cases the grasshoppers are too many.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Crop District 8 – Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas;
Crop District 9AE – Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas
Producers have noted that their crops look very good across the region but they could use a little more rain to help the crops fill with seed before they begin to ripen and dry down in time for harvest. Pulses and cereal crops appear to be the most mature with oilseeds being the most behind. With a few weeks of hot sunny weather crops in the region will begin to ripen quickly. Producers are likely 10 days or more from starting their harvest operations.
There were spotty rainstorms in the region this past week, the Prince Albert area received 29 mm, the Lake Lenore area 24 mm and the Melfort and Kinistino areas eight mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 80 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate and 22 per cent short.
Pastures in the region are doing much better than they were a year ago, with ample rainfall this growing season they have been able to recover from the drought stress of 2021. Pasture conditions are rated as twelve per cent excellent, 72 per cent good, 14 per cent fair and two per cent poor.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to strong winds that resulted in lodged crops, cereals crops such as barley, oats and wheat were mainly affected. There was a hailstorm in the northern half of the region that resulted in crop damage but the severity is not currently known.
Northwestern Saskatchewan
Crop District 9AW – Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas;
Crop District 9B – Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster areas
Harvest has not started in the northwest but crops have begun to turn and some will be ready for swathing or desiccating in the next seven-10 days. Rain still has the potential to help later seeded crops fill with seed and producers are hopeful they receive a little more before crops completely dry down. Producers are positive about their potential crop yields, stating they appear to be up from last year.
Rainfall in the northwest region ranged from nil to 51 mm in the Nielburg area, the Glaslyn area received 41 mm, the Duck Lake and Mayfair areas 37 mm and the Livelong area 24 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Pastures in the region benefited greatly from early season moisture and regular rainfall through the spring and their conditions have improved since last year. They are rated as 19 per cent excellent, 40 per cent good, 38 per cent fair and three per cent poor.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to heavy rains and strong winds causing some crops to lodge, there was some minor hail damage as well. Producers are worried that either a severe hailstorm or an early frost will get to their crops before they are able to harvest.
