Warm/humid weather during the week provided for good growing conditions and rapid crop growth.
Minimal rainfall occurred later in the week, mostly in western areas and ranged from 7 to 15 mm.
Crop staging varies greatly with crops planted late into wet soils, emerging erratically and showing signs of yellowing from excess moisture stress.
Winter wheat fields have headed out and fungicides to suppress Fusarium head blight are occurring. Spring cereals range from tillering to heading stages. Canola staging varies from seedling to 30 to 50% flowering in the earliest planted fields.
The most advanced canola is at the proper stage for sclerotinia fungicide application. Later planted, broadcast seeded canola has emerged relatively well in situations where harrowing was performed to surface incorporate the seed. The fields are in the 2 - 4 leaf stage; fertilizer is being surface applied to those fields showing good potential.
Herbicide applications continue as producers and custom applicators continue to deal with the difficult field conditions caused by excess moisture.
Some challenges facing them are varying crop stages and irregularly seeded fields left with un-seeded portions. Some herbicides have been aerial applied to control weeds in fields too wet for field equipment.
Leaf diseases are noticeable on cereal crops and fungicide applications are occurring as crops are reaching the flag leaf and heading stages.
Soil moisture conditions are still considered high-excessive and combined with the closing dense crop canopy, will promote the development of leaf diseases.
Heat loving crops like beans, corn and sunflower are progressing well, but their development remains behind normal at this time of year.
Insect problems have not been reported and trap counts of diamondback moths and Bertha armyworm have been generally low this season.
Forage harvest is progressing with dairy quality alfalfa being put up as silage. Hay making is difficult due to the higher moisture conditions and untimely rains that delay drying and reduce feed quality.
Reported yields are in the normal range at 1.5 to 2.0 T/a. Pasture growth is keeping up to grazing and many pasture stands are headed out. Some are suffering from excess moisture and the soft ground is not suitable for grazing cattle.
Some greenfeed is being seeded in areas that need forage supplies and were unable to seed all their cultivated acres.
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