Warm weather helped crop development and haying progress, according to the Saskatchewan Crop Report.

It says 61 percent of fall cereals are at normal stages of development and 35 percent are ahead; 55 percent of spring cereals are at normal stages of development, while 37 percent are ahead; 58 percent of oilseeds are at normal stages while 33 percent are ahead of normal; and 61 percent of pulses are at normal stages and 35 percent ahead.

71 percent of the province’s first cut of hay has been baled or silaged, with only 13 percent of hay still standing and 16 percent cut. Hay yields provincially are being estimated at 1.08 tons/acre, slightly above the 5-year average of 1.06 tons/acre but behind the 10-year average of 1.17 tons/acre. Producers are estimating silage yield at 3.13 tons/acre.

The Ministry of Agriculture says few producers expect a second cut of hay this year and are concerned about feed shortages this winter. They remind producers to bring water samples to their local regional office if they’re concerned about water quality for their livestock.

It was another week of pockets of moisture making its way around the province, according to the report, as the Old Wives area had the most recorded rain at 33 mm; some areas got trace amounts and others none.

Topsoil moisture declined this past week. Cropland topsoil moisture is 15 percent adequate, 57 percent short and 28 percent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture is 12 per cent adequate, 50 percent short and 38 percent very short.

Crop damage this past week is mostly due to dry conditions and grasshoppers and there are also a few reports of disease.

A region-by-region breakdown is below.

Southeast

Crops and haying are progressing quickly in the southeast. Pockets of rain moved through the southeast this week, with the highest in the region, 28 mm being reported in the Pense area. The warm weather seen throughout the region this week led to a decrease in soil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is 19 per cent adequate, 57 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is 12 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 46 per cent very short.

Crops are continuing to develop at mostly normal rates for this time of year. Pulse crops are the most ahead in development for this time of year, with 22 per cent of the crop ahead of normal. Oilseeds are the furthest behind in development, with 19 per cent of the crops behind normal stages of development for this time of year.

Haying is nearing completion, with 69 per cent of the first cut of hay baled or silaged in the southeast, 14 per cent is still standing and 17 per cent is cut. The hay is of good quality and producers are not anticipating a second cut of hay for the year. Depending on the type of hay, yields are estimated to be between 1.8 (greenfeed) and 1.1 (wild) tons per acre. Silage yields overall are estimated to be 5.3 tons/acre.

Crop damage this week is due to dry conditions and grasshoppers in the area. Producers are busy finishing haying, scouting their fields and preparing for harvest.

Southwest

Crops are progressing quickly in the area because of the recent warm and dry conditions. Scattered rain events were seen in the Southwest this past week. The most recorded was 33 mm in the Old Wives area, while other areas received trace amounts or no rain at all. Topsoil moisture remains relatively unchanged this week. Cropland topsoil moisture is six per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 45 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is reportedly very similar; four per cent has adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and 48 per cent is very short.

Crops are developing quickly in the southwest. Crops are now either ahead or at normal stages of development. Fall cereals are the most advanced and are equally split between being ahead of, or at normal stages of development. Spring cereals are the furthest behind in development, with four per cent of the crop behind normal stages of development.

The first cut of hay is almost complete, with 78 per cent of the first cut either baled or silaged. Only 10 per cent of the crop is still standing, while the remaining 12 per cent is cut. Overall, hay in the region is being reported as good to fair quality. Producers in the region are not anticipating a second cut this year. Depending on the type of hay, dryland hay yields are estimated to range between 0.6 (alfalfa) and 1.4 (greenfeed) tons per acre. Irrigated brome/alfalfa hay yield estimates are being reported at 3.2 tons per acre, while irrigated alfalfa has a slightly lower yield at 3.1 tons per acre. Silage yields are estimated to be 2.0 tons per acre.

Crop damage this past week is due to drought conditions and grasshoppers. Producers are expressing thoughts about using grain crops for feed this year, as well as concerns about feed shortages. Producers are busy finishing haying, scouting for grasshoppers and preparing for harvest.

East-Central

Warm temperatures ensured producers had an uninterrupted week of haying and crop development. Soil moisture reserves from this past spring have run out in the east-central region and producers are hoping for rain in the area soon.

Little precipitation was received in the region this past week. Semans reported the most rain, with 10 mm. Soil moisture diminished in the east-central region this week and cropland topsoil moisture is now 15 per cent adequate, 57 per cent short and 29 per cent very short. Thirteen per cent of hay and pasture land has adequate topsoil moisture, 52 per cent is short and 33 per cent is very short.

Crops are generally at normal stages of development for this time of year. Spring cereals are the most ahead of normal stages of development, at 11 per cent. Fall cereals are the most behind normal stages of development, with 16 per cent behind.

Producers are making swift progress with haying in the region. Sixty-eight per cent of the first cut has been baled or silaged, while 19 per cent is cut and only 13 per cent is still standing. The hay is of excellent to fair quality, with the majority being good quality. Producers are not anticipating a second cut. Hay yield estimates range between 0.8 (wild) to 1.4 (brome/alfalfa) tons per acre and silage yields are estimated at 3.9 tons per acre.

Crop damage this week is due to dry conditions and grasshoppers. Producers are busy finishing haying and scouting their fields.

West-Central

The west-central region has progressed through haying rapidly and are the most advanced in haying progress. With the region experiencing drought, many producers are hoping for rain to replenish soil moisture reserves.

Very little rain was received in the west-central region this week and, therefore, there was little relief for crops in this moisture-stressed area. The greatest amount of rain recorded this week was in Unity, with 18 mm being reported. Topsoil moisture remains relatively unchanged this week. Sixteen per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 55 per cent is short and 28 per cent is very short. Eight per cent of hay and pasture land has adequate moisture, 43 per cent is short and 49 per cent is very short.

The majority of crops in the region are at normal stages of development for this time of year. Oilseeds are the most ahead of normal stages of development. Spring cereals are the most behind, with nine per cent of the crop behind normal stages of development for this time of year.

Producers are the most advanced in haying in the west-central region compared to the rest of the province. Only six per cent of the first cut of hay is still standing, 13 per cent is cut and 81 per cent has been baled or silaged. The hay is of good quality. Producers are not anticipating a second cut and are expressing concerns about winter feed supplies. Estimated dryland hay yields in the region range from 0.5 (wild and greenfeed) to 0.7 (alfalfa and alfalfa/brome) tons per acre. Estimated irrigated hay yields are greater and range from 1.3 (greenfeed) to 1.9 (brome/alfalfa) tons per acre. Overall silage crops in the region are estimated to yield 2.0 tons per acre.

Crop damage this week is due to drought conditions and grasshopper damage. Many producers are busy scouting for grasshoppers, while also preparing for harvest.

Northeast

Crops are progressing quickly in the northeast with the warm and dry weather. Producers are hoping for rain soon to help maintain soil moisture reserves.

Little precipitation was received in the region this week. The Arborfield area received the most at five mm. Other areas in the region reported only trace amounts or none at all. Soil moisture saw a slight decrease this past week. Seventeen per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 74 per cent is short and nine per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land is similar, where 10 per cent has adequate topsoil moisture, 72 per cent is short and 18 per cent is very short.

Crops are progressing quickly in the northeast region. Fall cereals are now 94 per cent ahead of normal stages of development for this week. Oilseeds are the least advanced in stages of development, with 53 per cent being at normal stages.

Producers are progressing through haying. Only 10 per cent of the first cut of hay is still standing, while 12 per cent is cut and 78 per cent has been baled or silaged. The hay from the first cut is reported as being good quality. Some producers in the region are hoping to achieve a second cut. Hay yield estimates range from 0.5 (wild) to 1.9 (alfalfa) tons per acre. Silage yield for the region is estimated at 2.0 tons per acre.

Crop damage this week is mainly due to dry conditions. Producers are busy finishing haying and are preparing for harvest.

Northwest

Producers in the northwest are hoping for more rain to move through the region to help as the crops develop. Areas that did receive rain this week are grateful for the moisture.

Scattered showers moved through the region this week. The Glaslyn area reported the most rain in the region, with 26 mm being received. A large decrease in soil moisture accompanied the heat this past week. For cropland, 31 per cent has adequate soil moisture, 57 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short. Twenty-seven per cent of hay and pasture land acres have adequate topsoil moisture, 56 per cent are short and 18 per cent are very short.

Crops in the northwest are mainly in normal stages of development for this time of year. Spring cereals are the most advanced, with 41 per cent of the crop ahead of normal for this time of year. Oilseeds are the most behind, with three per cent behind normal for this time of year.

Producers in the northwest are making progress with haying. Twenty-seven per cent of the first cut of hay is still standing, 20 per cent is cut and 53 per cent has been baled or silaged. The hay is rated as being good quality. Producers are not anticipating a second cut this year. Hay yield estimates range from 0.8 (other tame hay or wild) to 1.6 (greenfeed) tons per acre. Silage yield estimates for the region are 4.0 tons per acre.

Crop damage this week is due to lack of moisture. Producers are busy haying and preparing for harvest.