Saskatchewan Crops Helped By Rain, Warmth

REGINA - Jul 11/19 - SNS -- Recent warm weather and improved moisture conditions across much of Saskatchewan are helping crops advance, though they remain generally behind normal for this time of year, according to the last crop report from the provincial agriculture department.

Saskatchewan Agriculture stressed, however, that "conditions vary greatly across the province, with the majority (of crops) in poor-to-good condition."

In Southeastern Saskatchewan 60% of the fall cereals and 40% of the spring cereals are in the heading stage, while 37% of the canola and mustard and 48% of the pulse crops are now flowering.

Spotty thunderstorms brought moisture and some hail to the parts of the region. Rain will be needed in the coming weeks in order to fill heads and pods.

       Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development Stage
                       (per cent)
               Emerging Vegetative  Flowering    Podding
Southeast             1         51         47          1
Southwest             2         38         56          4
East Central          2         45         52          1
West Central          2         48         50          0
Northeast             0         36         64          0
Northwest             0         24         75          1
All                   2         42         54          2
SOURCE: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

In Southwestern Saskatchewan some crops remain behind normal development though they are progressing. Around 65% of the fall cereals and 22% of the spring cereals have headed out, while 50% of the canola and mustard and 56% of the pulse crops are in the flowering stage. Some crops in the region will have a significantly reduced yield from the lack of moisture.

In the East-Central region crops are developing well with the moisture and warm weather, although some of the oilseed crops in particular remain behind in development. An estimated 86% of the fall cereals and 39% of the spring cereals are now heading, while 34% of the canola and mustard and 52% of the pulse crops are in the flowering stage.

Farmers in West-Central Saskatchewan report their fields are nicely advancing despite the challenging spring conditions. Crops generally are in poor to good condition, and some are behind in development. Around 38% of the fall cereals and 23% of the spring cereals are in the heading stage, while 38% of the canola and mustard and 50% of the pulses are flowering. Some areas of the region will have significantly below-average yields due to the extreme conditions this spring.

In Saskatchewan's Northeastern crop districts crops are advancing well, but some of the oilseed crops are behind in their development. Crop conditions remain poor to good in the region. An estimated 76% of the fall cereals and 37% of the spring cereals are headed–out, while 32% of the canola and mustard and 64% of the pulse crops are currently flowering.

In the Northwest crops are advancing, although some crops are behind in development. Roughly 73% of the fall cereals and 39% of the spring cereals are at the heading stage, while 44% of the canola and mustard and 75% of the pulse crops are flowering.

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