Crop conditions are improving, even though some areas still need of rain.

The majority of crops are in good to fair condition, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly crop report. About three-quarters of crops are at normal stages of development.

Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as nine percent surplus, 73 percent adequate, 16 percent short and two percent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as six percent surplus, 68 percent adequate, 15 percent short and 11 percent very short.

The driest areas include Outlook, Elbow, Dinsmore, Swift Current and Assiniboia.

St. Walburg had the largest amount of rain last week following some large thunderstorms. The volunteer crop reporter recorded 154 millimetres of rain.

There was another downpour near Hazenmore, in southwest Saskatchewan. A relatively small area received 100 millimetres.

Strong winds have also slowed in-crop weed control. There were also reports of grain bins being toppled in the Kindersley, Kerrobert and Macklin areas.

You can check out the complete region-by-region crop report below:

SOUTHEAST

Crop District 1 -Carnduff, Estevan, Redvers, Moosomin and Kipling areas;
Crop District 2 Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina and Qu Appelle areas;
Crop District 3ASE Radville, Minton and Lake Alma areas

More rain over most of the region this week has improved crop conditions and development. The majority of crops are in the good to fair rating. Most producers are happy to have the moisture, but fields in some areas have standing water from last week s heavy downpour.

The Carnduff area received 48 mm of rain, the Stoughton area 25 mmm, the Tantallon area 60 mm, the Weyburn area 45 mm, the Odessa area 51 mm and the Ceylon area 36 mm. The Lampman area has received the most precipitation (308 mm) in both the region and the province since April 1. The Fillmore area has received the least amount of rain in the region (26 mm).

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved tremendously with the recent rain. Much of the moisture has moved into the soil, but many areas remain too wet for weed-control operations. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate and seven per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 17 per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. Crop District 1A is reporting that 41 per cent of cropland, hay land and pasture have surplus topsoil moisture at this time.

Seeding operations have essentially wrapped up, although some greenfeed may be seeded once fields dry up.

Crop emergence remains patchy but the recent moisture will help crops establish. Pastures and hay land have benefitted greatly from the rainfall. Thirty-two per cent of the spring cereals, 35 per cent of the oilseeds and 28 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stage of development for this time of year. The majority of crop damage this past week was due to localized flooding, hail, strong winds and lack of moisture. Insects such as flea beetles continue to cause damage in canola fields.

In-crop weed control applications are proving difficult due to strong winds and variable crop staging within the fields.

SOUTHWEST

Crop District 3ASW Coronach, Assiniboia and Ogema areas; Crop District 3AN Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach and Central Butte areas;
Crop District 3B Kyle, Swift Current , Shaunavon and Ponteix areas;
Crop District 4 Consul, Maple Creek and Leader areas

Many areas in the region received much-needed rain this past week, greening up pastures and hay land and helping developing crops, but some areas will still need significant rainfall in the coming weeks to get crops, pastures and hay growing. Concerns remain that current soil moisture levels will not be enough to support a crop if rain does not arrive soon. Some hay fields have prematurely headed out and crops have been very slow to emerge and grow.

Rainfall in the region ranged from nil to 100 mm in the Hazenmore area. The Limerick area reported 33 mm, the Rockglen area 8 mm, the Moose Jaw area 34 mm, the Admiral area 2 mm, the Cabri area 18 mm, Shaunavon 55 mm and the Gull Lake area 9 mm. The Hazenmore area has received the most precipitation (133 mm) in the region since April 1, while the Shaunavon has received the least amount of rainfall (22 mm).

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved with the recent rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 40 per cent short adequate, 54 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 39 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 26 per cent very short. Crop District 3BS is reporting that 30 per cent of cropland, hay land and pasture remain very short of topsoil moisture at this time.

Crop emergence has been very patchy but some fields will benefit from the recent rain. Eighteen per cent of the spring cereals, 34 per cent of the oilseeds and 14 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stages of development for this time of year. Pastures and hay land remain in poor condition. The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lack of moisture, strong winds, localized flooding and insects such as flea beetles in canola.

Farmers are rolling pulse crops and starting in-crop spraying when they can.

EAST CENTRAL

Crop District 5 Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas;
Crop District 6A Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas

Crops, hay and pasture in the region are looking good. Timely rains have resulted in good germination, condition and development. Heavy rain was reported in some areas, compounding the excess moisture from previous weeks. Some fields around Esterhazy and Langenburg are flooded.

Crop District 5A reported between 4 and 61 mm of rain over the week. The Langenburg area reported 61 mm, the Goodeve area 25 mm, the Raymore area 4 mm, the Pelly area 58 mm, the Kelvington area 14 mm, the Semans area 5 mm, and the Craven area 26 mm. The Langenburg area has received the most precipitation (222 mm) in the region since April 1, while the Kenaston area has reported the least (43 mm).

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved tremendously with the recent rain. Much of the moisture has moved into the soil, but fields in many areas remain saturated. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and three per cent very short.

Twenty-three per cent of the spring cereals, 30 per cent of the oilseeds and 22 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stages of development for this time of year. Most crop damage this past week was due to localized flooding, hail, wind and insects such as flea beetles in canola.

Producers are busy with in-crop weed control operations.

WEST CENTRAL

Crop Districts 6B Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon and Arelee areas;
Crop District 7A Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major;
Crop District 7B – Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar areas

Most of the region received much-needed rain, although some areas remain very dry, having not received much more than an inch or two of moisture in the past few months.

The region saw varying amounts of moisture, and many producers still need more rain. Rainfall ranged from nil to 40 mm in the Landis area. The Conquest area reported 6 mm, the Saskatoon area 38 mm, the Rosetown area 8 mm, the Harris area 37 mm, the Phippen area 11 mm and the Biggar area 28 mm. The Harris and Cando areas have received the most precipitation (110 mm) in the region since April 1. The Dinsmore area has received the least amount of moisture since April 1 (14 mm). High winds rolled through the Kindersley, Kerrobert and Macklin areas, tipping over grain bins, toppling trees and damaging equipment and buildings.

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved slightly since last week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 79 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 69 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.

Crop emergence and hay land and pasture conditions have improved due to recent rain. Twenty-one per cent of the spring cereals, 24 per cent of the oilseeds and 18 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stages of development for this time of year.

Crop damage was minimal this week, with damage attributed to wind, lack of moisture and insects. Some producers have been spraying insecticides to control flea beetles and cutworms in canola crops.

NORTHEAST

Crop District 8 Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas;
Crop District 9AE Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas

A few rain showers were reported for the region, although the amount of rain was minimal compared to the past couple of weeks. Crop condition and development is looking good for this time of year.

The Nipawin area received 17 mm of rain this past week. The Star City area reported 7 mm, the Bruno area 10 mm and the Christopher Lake area 13 mm. The Humboldt region has received the most precipitation (150 mm) in the region since April 1. The Birch Hills area has recorded the least amount of rain fall for the region since April 1 (43 mm).

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent surplus, 90 per cent adequate and one per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and three per cent short. Crop District 8A is reporting that 21 per cent of the cropland and 17 per cent of the hay land and pasture have surplus topsoil moisture at this time.

Crops are emerging nicely due to the moisture received over the past two weeks. Ten per cent of the spring cereals, 18 per cent of the oilseeds and 17 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stages of development for this time of year

The majority of crop damage this past week was due to excess moisture and insects. Some producers have been spraying for flea beetles.

Farmers are catching up on the in-crop spraying that was delayed due to rainfall this week.

NORTHWEST

Crop District 9AW Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River and Hafford areas;
Crop District 9B Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster areas

Heavy rain storms were reported in the region this past week, resulting in significant amounts of rain in some areas. The St. Walburg area reported 154 mm, the Neilburg area 72 mm, the Turtleford area 28 mm, the Debden area 14 mm, the Maymont area 25 mm and the Speers area 30 mm. The St. Walburg area has received the most precipitation (214 mm) in the region since April 1. The Lloydminster area has reported the least amount of rain since April 1 (47 mm).

Topsoil moisture conditions continue to improve and, in some cases, areas have too much at this point. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent surplus and 91 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 91 per cent adequate and one per cent short.

Crops are emerging more evenly now, thanks to the timely rain. Hay land and pastures in the area have also perked up. Crops are generally in good condition. Sixteen per cent of the spring cereals, 19 per cent of the oilseeds and seven per cent of the pulses are behind their normal stages of development for this time of year.

The majority of crop damage this week was due to insects and excess moisture. Some producers have been spraying for flea beetles in the region.

Producers are busy with in-crop weed control operations.