Crops continue to develop, despite the dry conditions and little rain.

Crops Extension Specialist MacKenzie Hladun says rainfall totals were very low, as the Dinsmore area got the most at just 14mm.

Soil moisture conditions were affected as a result: cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 21 percent adequate, 55 percent short and 24 percent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture is currently 17 percent adequate, 55 percent short and 28 percent very short.

Despite that, canola is beginning to pod and wheat is beginning to flower in many areas. Hladun says crops are either ahead or at normal stages of development for this time of year.

Fall cereals are 31 percent ahead and 66 percent at normal stages of development; spring cereals are 33 percent ahead and 60 percent at normal stages of development; oilseeds are also 33 percent ahead and 58 percent at normal stages of development; pulse crops are 28 percent ahead and 67 percent at normal stages of development.

Hladun adds crops are in good to fair condition. Provincially, winter wheat and soybean crops are in the best condition, with 60 percent of winter wheat in good condition and 67 percent of soybeans in good condition. Mustard and canary seed are the crops in the poorest condition; 35 percent of mustard and 21 percent of canary seed is in very poor condition.

Crop damage this week are the usual suspects: heat and moisture stress and grasshoppers.

On the topic of haying, Hladun says producers have made swift progress.51 percent of the first cut of hay has been baled or silaged, while 26 percent is cut and 23 percent is still standing. The quality of hay ranges from excellent to fair, with 59 percent in good quality.

A region-by-region breakdown is below.

Southeast

Warm, dry conditions helped crop development and haying progress quickly in the southeast this past week. Many producers hope for rain soon to maintain crop conditions.

Many areas of the southeast reported only trace amounts of rain and the most rainfall reported was five mm in the Avonlea area. Soil moisture has diminished. Cropland in the southeast is 21 per cent adequate for soil moisture, 65 per cent short and 14 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is 17 per cent adequate for soil moisture, 62 per cent short and 22 per cent very short.

The majority of crops are at normal stages of development for this time of year. Fall cereals are the most advanced, with 28 per cent of this year’s crop ahead of normal stages of development. Oilseeds are the most behind, with 19 per cent of the crop behind normal stages of development. Crop conditions in the southeast are generally good, partially due to the excess moisture received this spring. Peas and lentils are in the best condition in the region, with 20 per cent of peas in excellent condition and 49 per cent in good condition. Fifteen per cent of lentils are in excellent condition and 59 per cent are in good condition. Currently, winter wheat, fall rye, spring wheat and durum are in the poorest condition with 10 to14 per cent of the crop in poor condition.

Producers have made great haying progress this week. Fifty per cent of the first cut of hay has been baled or silaged, while 23 per cent is cut and 27 per cent is still standing. The first cut of hay is good quality hay.

Crop damage this week is primarily due to heat stress and dry conditions, while grasshoppers remain the primary insect pest. Producers are scouting their fields for pests while many are working cattle and haying.

Southwest

Warm and dry conditions persisted in the southwest this past week and crops are progressing quickly. Producers in the southwest are hoping for rain soon.

Many regions of the southwest reported only trace amounts of rain this week. The most rain reported was four mm received in the Leader area leading to further topsoil moisture degradation. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently 10 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short, and 48 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land are similar; five per cent of topsoil has adequate moisture, 46 per cent is short, and 49 per cent is very short.

Crops are either in normal stages of development for this time of year or are more advanced. Fall cereals are the most advanced, with 39 per cent ahead in development. Crop conditions in the southwest are spread between good to very poor condition. Winter wheat is in the best condition, with 84 per cent of the crop in good condition. Canary seed is in the poorest condition, with 77 per cent of the crop in very poor condition.

Producers are nearing the completion of their first cut of hay with only 14 per cent still standing. Eighteen per cent has been cut, and 68 per cent has been baled or silaged for the year. The quality of the hay ranged from excellent to fair, with the majority being either good or fair quality.

Crop damage this week is due to heat stress and dry conditions and grasshoppers continue to be a problem. Producers are busy working cattle and haying.

East-Central

The excess moisture in the spring has helped the crops stay in good condition in the east-central region. Although the rain slowed seeding earlier in the season, many producers are hoping it will return to prevent crop conditions from regressing.

Only trace amounts of rain was received in the east-central region this week with seven mm of rain was recorded in the Foam Lake area. Topsoil moisture levels have diminished. One per cent of cropland topsoil moisture has a surplus of moisture, 27 per cent is adequate, 60 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short. Similarly, one per cent of hay and pasture land has a surplus of topsoil moisture, 25 per cent is adequate, 60 per cent is short, while 14 per cent is very short.

Crops are either in normal stages of development or are advanced. Oilseeds are the most advanced crop, with 35 per cent ahead of normal stages of development. Crops are generally in good to fair condition in the region. Oats and peas are in the best condition, both with nine per cent rated as being in excellent condition. Canola and barley are in the poorest condition, with seven and six per cent respectively in poor condition.

Producers have made good progress with haying this past week. Forty-seven per sent of the first cut of hay has been baled or silaged, while 29 per cent is cut and 24 per cent is still standing. Hay is of good quality.

Crop damage this week is due to dry conditions, with reports of grasshoppers and cereal army worm being present. Producers are busy this week with spraying and haying.

West-Central

Producers in the west-central region have made substantial progress with haying this past week. The warm and dry conditions persisted and allowed producers an uninterrupted opportunity to nearly complete the first cut of hay. They are hoping for further rain within the region.

Trace amounts of rain were recorded within the west-central region this week with the most being received in the Dinsmore area at 14 mm. Soil moisture levels further diminished this week with the hot and dry conditions. Cropland topsoil is currently 17 per cent adequate, 56 per cent short and 27 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is currently 11 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short, and 35 per cent very short.

The majority of crops in the west-central region are within the normal stages of development for this time of year. Crop conditions in the west-central region are spread between good to poor condition. Lentils and chickpeas are in the best condition at 40 and 50 per cent, respectively, of the crops are in good condition. Spring wheat and canola are in the poorest condition in the region, with 10 per cent of spring wheat and eight per cent of mustard in very poor condition.

Producers are nearing the completion of haying in the west-central region. Eight per cent of the first cut of hay is still standing, while 26 per cent is cut and 66 per cent has been baled or silaged. Hay quality is either fair or good.

Crop damage this week is due to hot and dry conditions with grasshoppers remaining a concern. Producers are currently haying and scouting their fields. With the heat, many are concerned about water quality.

Northeast

Warm conditions this past week allowed crops to advance in the northeast region. Producers are concerned about soil moisture and are hoping for rain soon to prevent crop quality from diminishing.

Trace amounts of rain was received in the northeast region this week. Eight mm was received was recorded in the Lake Lenore region. Soil moisture in the northeast diminished this week and both cropland and hay and pasture are short in topsoil moisture. Twenty-one per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 68 per cent is short and 11 per cent is very short. Fourteen per cent of hay and pasture land had adequate moisture, 70 per cent is short and 17 per cent is very short.

The majority of crops in the northeast are ahead of normal stages of development, with the most advanced being fall cereals at 70 per cent. Oilseeds are the least advanced and 54 per cent of the crop is within normal stages of development for this time of year. Crops are generally in good to fair condition in the region.

The first cut of hay is nearing completion for many producers. Regionally, 17 per cent of the crop is still standing, 32 per cent is cut and 51 per cent has been baled or silaged. The hay is of good quality.

Crop damage this week is primarily due to hot and dry conditions. Producers are busy with haying operations.

Northwest

Storms that moved through the northwest a few weeks ago have kept soil moisture high compared to the rest of the province. Producers in the northwest are hoping for some additional rains to help maintain moisture levels and prevent the crops from regressing.

The most rain recorded was four mm in the Medstead region. Topsoil moisture diminished this week compared to last week. In cropland, 50 per cent of topsoil has adequate moisture, 37 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short. In hay and pasture land, 36 per cent has adequate topsoil moisture, 47 per cent is short and 18 per cent is very short.

Crops in the northwest are mainly at normal stages of development for this time of year. Crop conditions range between excellent to fair. Fall rye is in the best condition, with 93 per cent of the crop in good condition and seven per cent in excellent condition. Barley crops are in the worst condition, with 10 per cent of the crop in poor condition.

Producers were delayed in haying progress last week but are now over halfway through the first cut of hay for the year. Currently, 46 per cent of the first cut of hay is still standing, 35 per cent has been cut and 19 per cent has been baled or silaged. Hay is generally rated good to fair quality.

Crop damage this week is due to grasshoppers and hot conditions. Many producers are hoping for rain soon. Producers are busy haying, scouting crops and spraying for grasshoppers.