New Crop Report

The impact of the hot, dry weather has been felt across a significant portion of the province during the past week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report.

Haying progress continued from last week. The first cut of the hay crop that has been baled or put into silage doubled from 31 per cent last week to 62 per cent this week. Yield estimates are considered to be average for the 2006 dryland brome/alfalfa hay crop.

According to provincial crop reporters, spring cereal crops are 63 per cent heading; flax crops are 65 per cent flowering; canola and mustard crops are 23 per cent podding; pulse crops are 51 per cent podding; and 62 per cent of fall cereal crops are at the dough stage. All crops are advancing ahead of normal.  Reporters in the southern and western areas of the province indicated that heat stress has started to impact crop yields.

Over the past week, topsoil moisture conditions on crop, hay and pasture land have deteriorated in the southern and western portions of the province. The northeastern grainbelt reported adequate topsoil moisture. There were very few reports of surplus topsoil moisture in the province. Fifty-four per cent of crop reporters showed adequate topsoil moisture, while 44 per cent rated topsoil moisture as short, and/or very short.

Hot, dry weather and insect damage were the major sources of crop damage.  Other sources included flooding, insects, diseases and gophers. There were several reports of spraying for wheat midge and other insects during the past week.