Things are starting to look up for producers, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report. It has been a wet and soggy July but crops are starting to dry out with harvest right around the corner.
“I think if we can have an August here that gives us very little rain, that is definitely what the majority of producers are wanting at this point,” said Daphne Cruise, crop management specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture in Moose Jaw.
Haying has picked up again the province after the wet week with 50 per cent of the hay crop baled or put into sillage. Another 20 per cent is cut and ready for bailing.
“Typically July is very dry when it comes to Saskatchewan and we tend to get some hay up in fairly good quality but I think because of that high humidity and long dry-down time we’re getting some compromised quality when it comes to the hay,” Cruise said.
However in the last two weeks producers have indicated that the situation has gotten better. Hay quality is currently rated as five per cent excellent, 70 per cent good, 24 per cent fair and one per cent poor.
Crops across the province are in generally good condition. Sixty-two per cent of spring wheat, winter wheat, flax and canola are in good condition. Harvest is getting closer to starting in some winter wheat, peas and lentils ready to be harvested with the next week or so in the southern and western areas of the province.
“If we get some dry conditions, then definitely (producers) can get into the fields sooner,” Cruise said.
There were still some rains this week though, with the heaviest showers dropping between 50 and 100 mm of precipitation. There were reports of 200 mm of rain in the Elfros area.
Source : Leaderpost