Sask Agriculture's weekly crop report shows area crops about two weeks behind in terms of normal development. Producers are preparing for harvest with repairs and preparations underway, but Crop Specialist Cory Jacobs notes that harvest is a few weeks away.
Early harvest operations have started in southern areas of the province with pulse crops being desiccated. Hay cutting is still underway with indications being that volumes may have improved with recent rainfall.
Rainfall ranged from 1 mm in the Tisdale area to 94 mm in the Porcupine Plain area. The Arborfield area reported 68 mm of rain, the Nipawin area 87 mm, the Humboldt area 43 mm, the Lake Lenore area 23 mm and the Spruce Home area 36 mm. The Nipawin area has received the most precipitation since April 1 (408 mm). Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as nine percent surplus, 87 percent adequate and four percent short. Hayland and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as nine percent surplus, 80 percent adequate, nine percent short and two percent very short.
The biggest concern for area farmers is the time race with early frost. Last week's nighttime lows dipped to plus 2 degrees in some locales as a cold front moved through. Some areas reported record lows, but there were no official reports of frost in the region. With temperatures moderating to closer to seasonal values, confidence that a solid return during harvest is taking hold.
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