Saskatchewan crops firmly normal in development

Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — Crops in Saskatchewan continued to be largely normal in their development, the provincial agriculture department said in its latest weekly crop report.

As of June 23, that comprised of

• Pulses: seven per cent ahead, 85 per cent normal, eight per cent behind
• Fall cereals: 20 per cent ahead, 77 per cent normal, three per cent behind
• Spring cereals: 13 per cent ahead, 73 per cent normal, 14 per cent behind
• Annual forages: 11 per cent ahead, 72 per cent normal, 17 per cent behind
• Oilseeds: six per cent ahead, 72 per cent normal, 22 per cent behind
• Perennial forages: 17 per cent ahead, 67 per cent normal, 16 per cent behind.

The report said cooler temperatures this week are slowing crop development.

Rainfall across Saskatchewan varied during the week, with the heaviest amounts of more than 100 millimeters in the Macklin and Wilkie areas, with the Semans and Luseland areas getting slightly below that amount.

The precipitation raised topsoil moisture levels throughout the province.

• Cropland: six per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 16 short and four per cent very short.
• Hayland: five per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and nine per cent very short.
• Pastures: three per cent surplus, 57 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.

Flooding in Saskatchewan will lead to one per cent of seeded land unable to produce a crop, as is one per cent of forage crops, and the same amount of pastureland that’s not usable. Of the forages, 52 per cent of the crop is likely to see reduced yields and 59 per cent of pastures could see their carrying capacities reduced.

Over the last week, damages to crops ranged from excessive rainfall, strong winds, hail, some frost, and gophers.