Released on August 6, 2020
Harvest operations have just started in some parts of the province. There have been reports of farmers desiccating pulse crops, with more planning to within the next week or two.
Warm weather this week has continued to help crops progress throughout the province, with most farmers estimating their crops are at their normal development stage.
There was minimal rainfall throughout the province this past week, with no rain in many areas. The Yorkton area received the most rainfall this week with 26 mm. The St. Walburg area has received the most rain in the province since April 1 with 418 mm.
With much of the cereals and pulses in the seed filling stages, rain would be welcome in many areas.
Minimal rain and warm temperatures this past week have resulted in a reduction in provincial topsoil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 57 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 10 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 19 per cent very short.
Warm, dry conditions have resulted in reduced pasture growth in many areas. Provincially, pasture conditions are rated as three per cent excellent, 34 per cent good, 39 per cent fair, 17 per cent poor and seven per cent very poor. The majority of pastures in the west-central and northern regions are rated as fair-to-good condition.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to heat, dry conditions and wind. Many parts of the province had high day and nighttime temperatures and farmers have reported heat blasting in canola and rapid progression through flowering and ripening stages. There was also damage reported by insects such as grasshoppers, bertha armyworms, aphids and diamondback moths, as well as diseases.
Farmers are busy haying, hauling grain and getting ready for harvest.
A complete, printable version of the Crop Report is available online at https://www.saskatchewan.ca/crop-report.
Follow the 2020 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.
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For more information, contact:
Sara Tetland
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-631-0483
Email: sara.tetland@gov.sk.ca