YORKTON - Parts of the region had a very dry July and crops have declined from heat and drought stress, according to the crop report for the period of July 18 to 24. Producers are hoping for showers soon to help maintain their current yield potential. In areas where precipitation has been more regular, crops are holding on but signs of stress from the extreme weather of the past few weeks are starting to show.
Rainfall was a welcomed sight in the region, helping cereals fill their heads and canola and pulse crops fill their pods as harvest nears. Some crops received the rain too late, which will likely result in disappointing yields. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 18 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 35 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 44 per cent very short.
Livestock producers across the region have 83 per cent of the hay crop baled or put into silage with another seven per cent cut and waiting to be baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as 13 per cent excellent, 57 per cent good, 26 per cent fair and four per cent poor.
The majority of the crop in the region is rated as being in poor to good condition, the poorer rated crops are in the western half of the region where rain has been less frequent.
Most of the crop damage this past week was due to heat and drought stress, wind and grasshoppers. Producers are beginning to prep their equipment for harvest and will be desiccating in the coming week.
