YORKTON - Ninety-four per cent of the crop is now in the ground, up from 81 per cent last week and slightly behind the five-year average (2018-2022) of 99 per cent, according to the crop report for the period of May 30 to June 5. Producers are progressing in seeding as weather conditions allow, but the rain this week has delayed many from completing operations.
Most of the region received rain this week. There are many reports of flooding in the region. Still, many producers were happy to see the rain as it helped improve moisture conditions in the drier parts of the region. The Wynard area received 47 mm of rain, the Saltcoats area 45 mm, the Craven and Stalwart areas 40 mm and the Lipton area 36 mm.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and six per cent very short.
Recent rain falls and high temperatures have helped support crop emergence and development. Sixteen per cent of the fall cereal crops are in the shot blade stage, while 31 per cent of the spring cereals are tillering. Forty-six per cent of canola and mustard is emerging and 31 per cent is in the seedling stage, along with 10 per cent of flax in the seedling stage. Forty-six per cent of the pulse crops are emerging and 47 per cent are in the vegetative stage.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to localized flooding, wind, flea beetles and grasshoppers. Producers are busy spraying, picking rocks and moving cattle to pasture.
