Rains Helping Crops Catch Up

REGINA - Jun 14/18 - SNS -- The delayed start to seeding this year's pulse crops in Saskatchewan had a direct impact on the stage of development of crops.

According to Saskatchewan Agriculture, 18% of the province's pulse crops are behind normal development for the first week of June, with 76% where they should be and 6% ahead of normal. One of the main issues was patchy emergence in some areas. That will be helped by recent rains.

Saskatchewan Agriculture noted, "Rain across most of the province has helped to alleviate dry topsoil moisture conditions. Areas in the southeast, which was one of the drier regions over the past couple of months, received large amounts that caused flooding.

"Topsoil moisture conditions have improved in much of the province . . . . Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 9% surplus, 73% adequate, 16% short and 2% very short."

        Saskatchewan Pulse Crop Development
                   (per cent)
                 Behind     Normal      Ahead
Southeast            28         63          9
Southwest            14         79          7
East Central         22         78          0
West Central         18         79          2
Northeast            17         71         12
Northwest             7         93          0
All                  18         76          6
SOURCE: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food