Crop District 8 – Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas;
Crop District 9AE – Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas
Crops are advancing quickly and are in relatively good condition overall. Rainfall last week was welcomed but more will be needed in the coming weeks to help crops develop and fill.
Rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 53 mm in the Arborfield area. The Porcupine Plain area reported 18 mm of rain, the Star City area 29 mm, the Tisdale area 30 mm, the Bruno area 3 mm, the Melfort area 37 mm, the Birch Hills area 21 mm, the Garrick area 20 mm and the Spruce Home area 8 mm. The Arborfield area has received the most precipitation (212 mm) in the region since April 1.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 10 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and 12 per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 15 per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and three per cent very short. Crop District 8A is reporting that 26 per cent of the cropland and 33 per cent of the hay land and pasture have surplus topsoil moisture at this time.
Haying operations are well underway in the area and six per cent of the hay crop is cut and 11 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is rated as 33 per cent excellent, 56 per cent good and 11 per cent fair. Hay yields are expected to be about average, although some areas may have much less hay than normal if rain does not arrive soon. Pastures are currently rated as five per cent excellent, 65 per cent good, 29 per cent fair and one per cent poor.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lack of moisture, hail and strong winds. Some areas have reported high temperatures that have damaged crops such as canola; yields are expected to be average at best in these areas.
Farmers are busy haying, spraying fungicides and scouting for insects and disease.
View the full Crop reports for Saskatchewan
