Crop growth and development is well ahead of normal according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report.
“Most of the crops are either at normal stages of development or ahead. And I think that’s attributed to a lot of our warmer conditions and weekly rains in most areas of the province,” said Daphne Cruise, crop management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in Moose Jaw.
Crops are at or or well ahead their normal stage of development for this year. Ninety-six per cent of pulse crops, 95 per cent of spring cereals and 94 per cent of the oilseeds are at this stage. The majority of the crops across the province are in good to excellent condition.
“Some cases even above normal especially when you consider the last four or five years. Over last year, things are definitely ahead of the game,” Cruise said.
Last year in the west side of the province there was a lack of moisture, which caused crops to be behind in their development.
This week the province has been seeing quite a lot of rain with an average of 25 mm falling across the province. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated at six per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated at three per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short.
In the southeast corner of the province, producers have seen more rain than the rest of the province.
“Especially the southeast, you know more toward south and east, south and west of Estevan and even east of Weyburn, Broadview area, a lot of those producers are indicating the water can turn off at any point,” Cruise said.
Source : Leaderpost