Widespread rainfall in the province last week had varying impacts on crops. The rain was timely for later seeded crops as they continue to fill, but some producers are concerned about the potential impact on quality for early seeded crops.
Additionally, rainfall slowed desiccation operations and other field work in many areas. Most producers welcomed the rainfall but are waiting for warm and dry weather to support crop development.
Most of the province received plenty of rain last week. The Beatty area received the most with 105 millimetres (mm), followed by the Calder area with 103 mm and the Star City area with 102 mm. The Bruno, Prince Albert and Saskatoon areas all received 90 mm of rain or more.
The abundance of rain dramatically increased topsoil moisture levels last week. Provincial cropland topsoil moisture now sits at 11 per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and only three per cent very short. For hayland, topsoil moisture is eight per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Pastures have topsoil moisture levels at six per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and eight per cent very short.
Some producers made harvest progress this week, with two per cent of crops harvested, which is behind the provincial five- and 10-year averages. The combination of rainfall and slow crop development last week prevented more crops from being harvested, but it is still early in the harvest season. Most of the progress has been made in the southwest, but some producers in the southeast and east-central are starting to take crop off. No producers in the west-central and northern regions have started harvesting yet, but they anticipate crops to be ready within the next couple of weeks if conditions are favourable.
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