Features
Agronomy
Seeding/Planting
Saskatchewan crops still developing slowly
A combination of dry and cool weather is creating varied growing conditions across much of Saskatchewan, with many districts reporting relatively high percentages of crops in the mid to poor range, leaving many hoping for warmer weather, and soon.
June 18, 2009 By Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture
June 17, 2009
Across the province, the majority of crops are in good to fair condition, but are behind normal in development, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report.
Winter wheat is reported as 43 percent good and 36 percent fair condition. Wheat is in 43 percent good and 40 per cent fair condition. Canola is reported as 32 percent good, 42 percent fair and 20 percent poor. Peas are 49 percent good and 35 percent fair.
On average, 67 percent of fall-seeded crops are behind normal in development. Eighty percent of spring cereals and 87 percent of oilseeds are behind normal. Seventy-six percent of pulse crops are behind normal in development.
Some moisture was received in areas of the province last week; however, provincial topsoil moisture conditions have declined overall since last week’s Crop Report. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported as 52 percent adequate, 35 percent short and 13 percent very short.
Hay land and pasture moisture conditions are reported as 43 percent
adequate, 38 percent short and 19 percent very short. The west-central and northwestern districts of the province have received only trace amounts of precipitation in some areas and are severely dry. Hay and pasture growth is slow, and stands are short in some areas of the province.
Frost was still damaging crops in some areas of the province last week. Dry conditions, hail, gophers and flea beetles were the other sources of crop damage. Cutworms and grasshoppers are showing up in some fields.
The warm weather is welcome, and rain would be appreciated in most areas. Farmers are busy controlling weeds and gophers, and scouting crops.
