Top Crop Manager

News Agronomy
Crop report: Saskatchewan heat advances crops, grasshoppers pose challenges

July 27, 2022  By Top Crop Manager


The latest crop report shows improvements in Saskatchewan and Alberta. However, Manitoba continues to be hit with challenges from excess rainfall and extreme weather.

Manitoba

Crop conditions are generally good in Manitoba, but weather-related challenges continue. The province has received a large amount of moisture over the last several months. According to the latest report, which covers the week ending July 26, these frequent rains, combined with generally warm temperatures, have elevated risk for many fungal diseases. Application is widespread for oat, barley, canola and pea crops. Fungicide spraying is ongoing in all regions as later crops reach the correct stage. Rainfall has made ground applications challenging. Grasshoppers are present in many areas of the province.

For cereals, most of the province’s crops are in good to excellent condition. However, the Fusarium Head Blight risk maps showed moderate to extreme risk across the province this past week, with extreme risk for much of the province on July 20 and 21. FHB fungicide application is nearing completion. Oilseeds are more variable in condition, particularly canola crops. Some are in excellent condition, while others are in poor condition with thin stands. The majority of canola is in full flower, while flax ranges from flowering to flowering completed with bolls beginning to fill. High temperatures may have shut down flowering earlier than expected in some fields. Sunflowers are at the R3 to R4 stages.

Advertisement

For pulses, soybeans are growing rapidly and are in the R2 to R4 stage. Soybean fields with iron deficiency chlorosis are starting to improve, although fields with excess moisture continue to show signs of stress. Field peas are mostly in the flowering to R3 flat pod stage. Excess rainfall has led to root rot in poorly drained fields or areas of fields. Yellow areas are evident in low spots and drains. Aphids have been noticeable in some pea crops, with control occurring in some fields. | READ MORE

Saskatchewan

Heat and humidity in Saskatchewan continue to help crops advance throughout the province for the week ending July 18. The humidity has slowed haying. Canola has suffered from the heat and humidity, and many producers are reporting that their crops have experienced heat blasting and are worried about the effect on yields. If this heat continues with minimal rainfall, crops will be ready for harvest sooner than normal, similar to last year. Many areas in the province experienced wild weather systems this past week with hail, thunderstorms and even tornados occurring leaving crops, buildings and trees damaged.

Provincially, 74 per cent of the fall cereals, 65 per cent of the spring cereals, 61 per cent of the oilseeds and 74 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Producers have indicated that cereals are heading out and are hopeful that the head will fill now that moisture is adequate in many areas. Canola is flowering and podding throughout the province.

Several localized storms resulted in some damage from lodging and minor flooding. While many producers in the province, particularly in the west, have dealt with dry conditions since the beginning of the growing season, this rain will not improve their crops at this time, according to the report. However, the moisture will increase their ability for a second cut of hay and will improve their pasture conditions.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and eight per cent very short.

Localized hail, strong winds, dryness, heat, flooding, grasshoppers and gophers have been the main cause of crop damage over the past week. Many producers will be assessing which of their fields are worth the effort and cost of spraying for grasshoppers. |READ MORE

Alberta

As of the start of July, Alberta is no longer releasing abbreviated reports every second week. The next full report, which covers conditions as of July 26, will be released by Friday, July 29. Detailed updates for the week ending July 12 can be found in last week’s report.

Most recently, 75 per cent of Alberta’s major crops are rated as good or excellent, with the south region having the fewest crops in good or excellent conditions. Conditions are best in the north east region, with 82 per cent of all crops as good or excellent. Fungicide spraying is underway, and gophers infestation is becoming a concern in some areas. The Central, Peace and North West regions are all in the high seventies for good and excellent crops. Precipitation also improved in July. Surface soil moisture is currently rated as 82 per cent good, excellent or excessive, which is nearly double from the beginning of the season. Subsurface soil moisture is only eight per cent poor and 27 per cent fair, and 65 per cent good, excellent or excessive. |READ MORE

Advertisement

Stories continue below