Features
Agronomy
Recent rainfall alleviates concerns about dry fields in Saskatchewan
By Shannon Friesen Saskatchewan Agriculture
The majority of the province received much-needed moisture this past week, helping to alleviate concerns about dry field conditions, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Crop Report.
Southwest areas received little rain, while many fields in the southeast are saturated and flooded. In the southeast, it will be some time before they are dry enough to be accessed. Meanwhile, in the southwest region there are concerns that crop and hay yields will be affected if rain does not arrive soon.
Thanks to the recent rainfall, topsoil moisture conditions have improved in much of the province.
Seeding operations are nearing completion, although the rain will delay progress in some areas. Ninety-six per cent of the crop is now seeded, up from 91 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year (2013-2017) average of 90 per cent for this time of year. Seeding is furthest advanced in the south, where 98 per cent of the crop seeded. Ninety-seven per cent is seeded in the west-central region, 96 per cent in the northeast and northwest and 93 per cent in the east-central region.
Crop growth is delayed in much of the province and most crops are behind their normal developmental stages for this time of year. The majority of crop damage this past week was due to localized flooding, lack of moisture, hail, strong winds and insects such as flea beetles and cutworms. | READ MORE
