Released on June 18, 2007
Flooded fields and delays in spraying caused concerns for many farmers, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.
The southeast averaged over 35 millimetres of rain over the past week, and in some areas the precipitation is continuing. Farmers who have yet to seed are still hoping to plant some crops for greenfeed, but most acknowledge that it is too late to seed for a harvestable fall crop.
Provincially, spring cereals averaged 27 per cent in the emerging stage, 58 per cent in the tillering stage, and nine per cent in the jointed stage. Flax crops are 35 per cent in the emerging stage, 51 per cent in the seedling stage and seven per cent in the stem extension stage. Canola and mustard crops are 20 per cent in the emerging stage, 48 per cent in the seedling stage, and 24 per cent in the rosette stage. Pulse crops are 19 per cent in the emerging stage and 79 per cent in the vegetative stage. Fall cereals are 37 per cent in the shotblade stage and 38 per cent in the heading stage.
Haying operations on the 2007 crop were just getting underway last week, with less than one per cent cut or baled. Warm settled weather will help move haying operations along.
There was a lower percentage of adequate topsoil moisture conditions on crop land this past week than in the previous week. Reporters rated 79 per cent of crop land and 83 per cent of hay and pasture land as having adequate topsoil moisture. Additionally, the amount of land in a surplus moisture situation and in a short moisture situation increased over the past week.
The main source of crop damage during the past week was flooding. Crop damage was also caused by insects (flea beetles, cut worms, wire worms, aphids), gophers, hail, disease (tan spot, rust, root rot, ascochyta blight), frost, wind and drought.
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For more information, contact:
Terry Bedard
Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5956