YORKTON - Producers in the east-central region are thankful for the spring rains they received this year which have kept crops and pastures in good condition, according to the crop report for the period of June 28 to July 3. The warm temperatures this past week have increased crop growth in the region.
Isolated showers swept across the region and delivered varying amounts of rain, either in trace amounts or up to 29 mm in the Ituna area. Topsoil moisture levels remained adequate despite the warm temperatures. Two per cent of cropland has excess topsoil moisture, 52 per cent is adequate, 41 per cent is short and four per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 47 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short (43 per cent) for and 10 per cent is very short.
The majority of pulses, 42 per cent are podding in the east-central region. The majority of flax is in the stem elongation stage. Canola is either in the rosette stage at 47 per cent or flowering at 49 per cent. Fall cereals are heading at 72 per cent or in dough stages at 19 per cent. Spring cereals are more diverse in staging throughout the region and range from jointed at 14 per cent to heading at 43 per cent.
Harvesting the first cut of hay is well underway, with 26 per cent of the hay cut and 18 per cent baled or silaged. Hay is of good quality. Pasture conditions range from excellent to fair; 37 per cent of pastures are in good condition.
Crop damage this week is due to some localized flooding, wind damage and grasshoppers. Producers are busy haying and spraying fungicides following the warm and humid weather that is favourable for disease development.
