Too dry or too wet? Sask. producers struggling with moisture conditions

Crop development has been slow in Saskatchewan due to moisture conditions, but the stories are different around the province with some areas too dry and others too wet.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s provincial crop report for June 21-27, the slow crop development is due to early-season drought conditions in the west and too much moisture in the east. While the west did get some much-needed rainfall over the past week, more precipitation is needed to ensure adequate growth. Meanwhile, other regions are seeing flooding and drowned-out crops due to highly concentrated rainfall.

Provincially, the majority of crops are in fair to good condition, with 76 per cent of fall cereals, 58 per cent of spring cereals, 46 per cent of oilseed crops, and 69 per cent of pulses at their normal development stages.

Despite the recent rain, topsoil moisture levels dropped slightly during the latest reporting period. Crop land was rated at nine per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and four per cent very short.

Haying is just beginning in the province, but moisture is causing the same issues. Growth in the west is delayed due to a dry early season, and rain has delayed cutting in the east.

For hay and pasture land, moisture levels were rated at eight per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and seven per cent very short.

Hay quality was rated at 20 per cent excellent, 52 per cent good, 26 per cent fair, and two per cent poor.

Certain pests are becoming a big issue in some parts of Saskatchewan, the crop report noted.

“Gophers have become a serious problem in many rural municipalities across the province, with some producers stating that they have lost large portions of their fields,” the report read.

Producers are also working hard to control disease, with some spraying their first round of fungicide on crops like spring wheat and others applying herbicide and insecticide.