SOUTHEASTERN SASKATCHEWAN CROP REGION — Spring seeding across the Â鶹´«Ã½AVeastern Crop Region region is nearly complete, some producers may go back and seed some low spots if they are able to access them before the seeding window closes. Rains were welcome the past week and for most of the region the crops, hayland and pastures are in good condition.
Good, consistent rainfall over the past several weeks has allowed the region to see an improvement in on-farm water supplies when compared to last year at this time. The Bienfait and Moosomin areas received 41 mm, the Tantallon area 33 mm and the Marquis area 18 mm. In some areas, hail accompanied the rain. Tuxford, Marquis and Grand Coulee received enough pea sized hail to blanket the ground. No major flooding was reported and the water was reported to have absorbed into the soil nicely where rains were more general.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, six per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate, eight per cent short and one per cent very short.
In the southeast region, 55 per cent of the fall cereals, 38 per cent of the spring cereals, 35 per cent of the oilseed crops and 48 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Due to a very wet spring, crops have been slow to develop in the region, however, with warm weather in the forecast they will catch up quickly.
Crop conditions range from good to fair in the region, with 70 per cent of the spring wheat, 70 per of the canola and 74 per cent of the lentils being in good condition at this time. Crop germination has been poor in low areas and producers hope that seedlings will emerge soon.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to minor flooding, insect pests (flea beetle and grasshoppers), frost and hail. Producers are busy spraying when they can and beginning to clean and store their seeding equipment until next year.
In the provincial overview, producers were able to wrap up most of the seeding operations in the province over the past week with 98 per cent of the crop now in the ground.
Become a Volunteer Crop Reporter
Are you a weather-watcher who checks the rain gauge each morning? Do you enjoy discussing farming and crop conditions with your neighbours? Would you like to contribute local information to Saskatchewan Agriculture's most popular publication?
Then consider becoming a volunteer Crop Reporter with the Ministry of Agriculture. Saskatchewan has a great reputation for the quality of its crop report and all those involved in the agriculture industry benefit from the information it provides. It also helps the general public to understand the challenges facing our producers.
Crop Reporters
Crop Reporters are a mix of producers, agrologists, and anyone else involved or interested in agriculture; they are the eyes and ears of what is happening in the farming community. There are currently over 200 volunteers spread across the province with many having contributed information for several decades. In 2015 for the first time ever, three reporters reached 40 years of volunteering with the program. Saskatchewan Agriculture greatly appreciates the commitment these volunteers have shown to the Crop Report.
Crop Reporter Commitment
Each week, Crop Reporters spend five to 10 minutes filling out a survey. The majority of questions are based on conditions in their RM or surrounding Crop District. Many reporters talk with their neighbours and clients to find out what is happening locally and base their answers on their immediate area.
Questions provide the Ministry with information on rainfall, topsoil moisture conditions, seeding progress, crop development, crop damage, harvest progress and crop yields, as well as haying progress and yields, livestock feed supplies and pasture conditions. Weather-related damage and conditions are also frequently surveyed.
There are several options available for reporting. Many reporters will call the Agriculture Knowledge Center in Moose Jaw and talk to a live person while others will fax or email information. The Crop Report also offers online reporting through weekly customized email links.
Crop Report Audience
The information is used across Saskatchewan and world-wide by producers, agrologists, policy-makers, media, marketers, investors and others interested or involved with the agricultural industry. The Crop Report is Saskatchewan Agriculture's most popular publication. Since Saskatchewan is a major producer and exporter of crops, the progress of Saskatchewan's crop is followed closely around the world.
There are many RMs that need a Crop Reporter, and volunteers are always welcome to join the Crop Reporting Service even if their RM currently has a volunteer Crop Reporter. The more data collected, the better the Crop Report will be.
