Warm weather and widespread rain this week helped crop development, but it didn’t stay for very long to help out topsoil moisture, according to the latest Saskatchewan crop report.

Crops Extension Specialist MacKenzie Hladun says crops are advancing quickly. She says 60 percent of canola is in the flowering stage, and 56 percent, of this year’s flax crop is in the stem extension stage. 51 percent of fall cereals are heading out and 36 percent at a dough stage. 43 percent of spring cereals are also heading out. The report says pulses are the most diverse in staging across the province, with 28 percent in vegetative stages, 29 percent flowering and 40 percent beginning to pod.

Generally, the northern part of the province got more rain the south. Hladun noted the Odessa area, however, got the most rain with 42 mm, followed by Prince Albert at 40 mm and Turtleford got 37 mm.

While there was rain, warm temperatures soaked that up, affecting topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 1 percent surplus, 42 percent adequate, 42 percent short, and 15 percent very short. Hay and pasture topsoil moisture follows a similar pattern with 36 percent adequate, 42 percent short and 21 percent very short.

Haying is underway in Saskatchewan as 48 percent of the hay crop has been cut for the first time this year, and 23 per cent has also been baled or silage. Hay quality from the first cut is good to fair, with producers hoping the second cut is also good and are also watching pasture conditions with 36 percent rated as good, 32 percent fair and 20 percent poor.

Hladun also noted crop damage this week, from scattered hailstorms, crop diseases – after wet and humid conditions accompanied the heat – heat stress and wind damage. There was plow winds in the north, in addition to grasshoppers, other insects and gophers.

As farmers continue spraying insecticides and fungicides, they’re reminded to always read the label and follow recommended rates. The 2023 Guide to Crop Protection is available to help producers with spraying decisions.

A region-by-region breakdown is below.

Southeast 

The moisture received early in the spring is helping the crops progress in southeast. Although in slight excess this spring, producers are hoping the moisture will return as rain is needed soon to help pastures and crops remain in good condition.

Isolated showers were seen across the southeast this past week, with 42 mm being received in the Odessa region. Rainfall in other parts of the region varied. Topsoil moisture is beginning to diminish in cropland, hay and pasture land. In Cropland, two per cent of topsoil moisture is rated as surplus, 43 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short, and 11 per cent very short. Hay and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent is surplus, 35 per cent is adequate, 45 per cent is short and 20 per cent is very short.

Cereal heads and flowering canola are seen throughout the southeast. Fall cereals are mainly headed out at 66 per cent, while 17 per cent are in the dough stage. Spring cereals are not far behind, with 36 per cent in the shot blade stage and 25 per cent headed out. In canola, the majority of the crop is either in the rosette stage at 40 per cent or flowering stage at 47 per cent. Flax is 52 per cent at the stem elongation stage. Pulses are the most diverse in staging, with 47 per cent in vegetative stages and 39 per cent podded.

Almost half of the first cut of hay is complete for the year, with 24 per cent cut and 20 per cent is baled or silaged. The majority of hay is of good quality, ranging from excellent to fair quality. Pastures are rated as 58 per cent in good condition, while 27 per cent are in fair condition.

Crop damage reported in the southeast this week was due to heat stress, wind damage, grasshoppers and other insect pressures. Producers are currently busy haying and scouting crops while deciding whether or not to spray.

Southwest 

Flowering canola is a more common sight than not in the southwest. Producers hope for rain and moisture as crops and pastures are beginning to show signs of heat stress.Minimal rain was received in the region this past week. The most was recorded in Rockglen, where producers reported receiving 10 mm. Topsoil moisture levels are beginning to diminish in both cropland as well as hay and pasture land. In cropland, 15 per cent of topsoil has adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and 37 per cent is very short. In hay and pastures, 11 per cent is adequate, 44 per cent is short, and 45 per cent is very short.

Crops are advanced in the southwest. Fall cereals are 70 per cent headed, 25 per cent in the dough stage and five per cent are ripe. Spring cereals are mainly in the shot blade stage at 44 per cent and 32 per cent at the heading out stage. Flax is mainly in the stem extension stage (60 per cent), while 16 per cent is flowering. Seventy per cent of canola is flowering while 10 per cent is beginning to form pods. Pulses are diverse in their staging, with 34 per cent vegetative and 28 per cent podding.

The first cut of hay is over halfway complete in the southwest. Twenty-five per cent is cut, 34 per cent is baled or silaged, the remaining 40 per cent is still standing. Pastures are in poor condition in the southwest at 38 per cent, ranging from being in fair to very poor condition.

Heat and dry conditions, gophers and grasshoppers continue to be the primary causes of crop damage in the southwest. Producers are busy haying their crops and watching the horizons for possible rain to help with crop and pasture conditions.

East-Central 

Producers in the east-central region are thankful for the spring rains they received this year which have kept crops and pastures in good condition. The warm temperatures this past week have increased crop growth in the region.

Isolated showers swept across the region and delivered varying amounts of rain, either in trace amounts or up to 29 mm in the Ituna area. Topsoil moisture levels remained adequate despite the warm temperatures. Two per cent of cropland has excess topsoil moisture, 52 per cent is adequate, 41 per cent is short and four per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 47 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short (43 per cent) for and 10 per cent is very short.

The majority of pulses, 42 per cent are podding in the east-central region. The majority of flax is in the stem elongation stage. Canola is either in the rosette stage at 47 per cent or flowering at 49 per cent. Fall cereals are heading at 72 per cent or in dough stages at 19 per cent. Spring cereals are more diverse in staging throughout the region and range from jointed at 14 per cent to heading at 43 per cent.

Harvesting the first cut of hay is well underway, with 26 per cent of the hay cut and 18 per cent baled or silaged. Hay is of good quality. Pasture conditions range from excellent to fair; 37 per cent of pastures are in good condition.

Crop damage this week is due to some localized flooding, wind damage and grasshoppers. Producers are busy haying and spraying fungicides following the warm and humid weather that is favourable for disease development.

West-Central 

Producers were very grateful for some rain in the region this past week as warm and dry conditions continue and hope more will come soon.

Scattered showers moved through the region this week, with trace amounts and up to 34 mm being recorded in the Hague area. Topsoil moisture levels are diminishing in cropland and are limited in hay and pasture land. Forty-six per cent of cropland is adequate for soil moisture, 38 per cent is short and 16 per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land is more limited with 27 per cent rated as adequate, 49 per cent short and 24 per cent very short.

Fall cereals are at diverse stages throughout the region. Seven per cent are tillering, 19 per cent jointed, 19 per cent at the shot blade stage and 19 per cent heading, while 38 per cent are in the dough stage. Spring cereals are either shot blade at 37 per cent or heading at 54 per cent. The majority of flax is in stem elongation stages. Canola is primarily flowering at 68 per cent and pulses are either flowering at 45 per cent or podded at 40 per cent.

Only 36 per cent of hay is left standing for the first cut this year; 33 per cent is cut and 31 per cent is baled or silaged for the year. Hay is of good to fair quality for the first cut. Pastures range from good to poor condition, overall, 47 per cent are in fair condition.

Crop damage in the west-central this past week was caused by grasshoppers and heat stress. Producers are busy haying and spraying fungicides and insecticides.

Northeast 

Crops are progressing nicely in the northeast. Canola is flowering and cereals are heading out with good conditions throughout the region. Producers are hoping for some timely rains to sustain the conditions they have.

The northeast received rain this week that was also accompanied by some strong winds. The Prince Albert area recorded 40 mm this past week. Rain received helped maintain moisture levels, although they are still diminishing. In cropland, 54 per cent of topsoil moisture is adequate, 45 per cent is short and one per cent is very short. In hay and pastures, 49 per cent is adequate, 50 per cent is short, and one per cent is very short.

The majority of fall cereals are in dough stages at 69 per cent, while 29 percent are heading. In spring cereals, 59 per cent is heading out. Seventy per cent of canola is flowering and 54 per cent of pulses are podding. Sixty-eight per cent of flax is in the stem elongation stage.

Producers are about halfway through their first cut of hay, with 23 per cent cut and another 25 per cent baled or silaged. Producers are happy with the good quality hay. Pasture conditions in the northeast are rated as 63 per cent good with 30 per cent in fair condition.

Crop damage in the northeast this week is due to localized flooding, wind damage and some moisture stress. Producers are busy spraying fungicides and haying this week.

Northwest

Producers welcomed the rainfall this past week; that helped replenish topsoil moisture levels. However, along with the rain came hail and strong winds that caused some crop damage. The Turtleford area recorded 37 mm.

Topsoil moisture levels were replenished by the rain with 73 per cent of cropland is now adequate and 26 per cent short. In hay and pasture land, 70 per cent is adequate and 27 per cent is short.

Flax is the most advanced in this region, where 80 per cent of the crop is flowering. Fall cereals are equally split between heading and dough stages. Spring cereals are mainly heading out at 65 per cent. Seventy-four per cent of canola is flowering. Pulses are mainly podding at 40 per cent.

The moisture this past week delayed haying progress in the region. Seventy-five per cent of hay is standing, while 18 per cent is cut and seven per cent is baled or silaged. The majority of first cut hay is of good quality. Pastures are in good to fair condition in the region, with many producers hopeful that condition will hold on after this week’s moisture.

Crop damage this week was due to hail and wind that moved through the region. Producers are also scouting crops for disease and insects, with grasshoppers being a primary concern.