As the province’s highways and communities experience overland flooding from immense amounts of rain, Saskatchewan’s cropland is no different. 

The Saskatchewan Agriculture Weekly Crop report says heavy rainfall resulted in saturated fields with flooding of low-lying areas. Producers in areas that received hail will be assessing crop damage over the next week or two to determine how yields will be impacted. The recent cool, wet weather has also slowed crop development, making it difficult for farmers to find spraying windows or complete haying operations. 

Breaking precipitation down further, the east-central region from Saskatoon to the Manitoba border received the most rain lasts week… 165 millimetres in the Kuroki area, with the Marengo area on its heels with 145 mm. There was also significant rainfall in the Mikado and Raymore areas with 140 mm and 134 mm, respectively. Cropland topsoil moisture is now at 36 per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, one per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 25 per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate, and three per cent short. And lastly, pasture topsoil moisture is 17 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, and three per cent short. 

Although some crops development has been delayed due to the weather, the report says most crop types remain near normal development stages.  Three-quarters of fall cereal crops and perennial forages are rated at normal development with the remainder behind normal development. Two-thirds of pulse crops and annual forages are considered normal while the remainder are behind normal development. Around one-half of oilseed and spring cereal crops are at normal stages of development, with the other half being behind normal stages for this time of year.  Warmer and drier conditions in the west half of the province have made it the region with the fewest acres of crops that are behind normal development. 

Crop conditions differ across the province, also due to the amount and timing of rainfall. Two-thirds of fall and spring cereal crops are in good condition, with one-quarter rated as excellent. For pulses, two-thirds of crops are in good condition, with the majority of the remaining crops in excellent condition. Finally, most oilseed crops were in good to excellent condition at the end of June. 

As of last week, none of the hay crops in the province have been cut, baled or silaged. However, hay quality varies greatly throughout the province. Twenty-eight per cent of hay is excellent in quality, 56 per cent is good, 15 per cent is fair, and one per cent is poor quality. Warmer and drier weather would allow haying operations to get underway. 

When it comes to crop damage accrued throughout the province last week, producers are reporting that flooding was the main culprit. Also, gophers, wind and flea beetle activity have caused minor damage in some areas. Many regions experienced thunderstorms last week which brought varying levels of hail damage. 

Next steps for producers include attempting to apply in-crop herbicide, as well as scouting crops and spraying for insects and disease when necessary. Livestock producers are hoping for some drier conditions to get haying operations underway.