July 10, 2009
Crop development in Saskatchewan government
Development of the grain and oilseed crops in Saskatchewan continues to improve thanks to the warm temperatures and arrival of moisture, but the majority of the crops remain behind normal, according to the crop update from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture for the week ended July 6.
An estimated 70 percent of the fall cereals were in the heading stage of development, while 17 percent were in the dough stage, Saskatchewan Agriculture said in the report issued Thursday (July 9). Only 11 percent of the fall cereals were in the shot-blade stage.
Roughly 36 percent of the spring cereals were in the shot-blade stage of development, with 17 percent and 38 percent in the tillering and jointed stages, respectively.
The report said 28 percent of the canola and mustard was in the flowering stage, while 54 percent was in the rosette stage. An estimated 16 percent of the canola was still in the seedling stage. Of the pulse crops, 40 percent was flowering while 57 percent was in the vegetative growth stage.
Provincial topsoil moisture conditions have declined slightly since the previous report. Crop land topsoil moisture was reported as 57 percent adequate, 36 percent short and 11 percent very short.
Varying amounts of precipitation, ranging from light showers to hail and thunderstorms, were received across the province during the reporting period.
While some areas have received adequate rainfall, many areas still need rain to improve moisture conditions, Saskatchewan Agriculture said.
In the west-central region, precipitation varied from nil to 30 millimetres and hay yields and quality are reported as below normal.
An estimated 11 percent of the hay has been cut in the province, while 84 percent is still standing, and 4 percent has already been baled. The quality of the majority of the hay was reported as good to fair.
The report noted that dry conditions continued to be the largest single cause of crop damage. Grasshoppers are also causing damage in the south, southwest and northwest regions of the province.
