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Freezing temperatures were recorded throughout most of the southeast, and the rest of the province on Sept. 13. The early frost will have some effect on the late-seeded crops.
"Certainly people are very concerned about their very green crop that is still out there, whether it is canola, wheat or barley," said Elaine Moats, crop specialist for the Weyburn area. "I have talked to a number of people who are concerned on when to cut their cereals because they are concerned about nitrate and nitrate poisoning."
Moats explained that when the plant is injured from frost, "it is like being hit on the head, it has been stunned. The roots are still pumping nitrogen into the plant, and the plant can't use it and nitrate accumulates."
If a producer cuts a crop too soon after a frost, it might seal the nitrogen in and it becomes the cause for nitrate poisoning for cattle. Moats recommends that farmers wait ten days to two weeks to allow for the plants to recover. "You want to cut it so you preserve the rest of the quality and then test it for nitrates after
you get it baled."
Producers were able to complete a large portion of harvest operations during the period of Sept. 6 to 12. Before the frost hit on Sept. 13, temperatures were over 30 degrees Celsius for several days, allowing crops to dry down for a quick harvest.
Â鶹´«Ã½AVeast producers combined 71 per cent of the 2011 crop, and have 15 per cent swathed or ready to straight-combine. According to the Ministry of Agriculture's weekly crop report for the southeast, combined crops include 100 per cent of the winter wheat and fall rye; 99 per cent of the chickpeas, 98 per cent of the peas,
96 per cent of the lentils; 66 per cent of the spring wheat, 73 per cent of the durum, 38 per cent of the oats, 77 per cent of the barley, 75 per cent of the canola, 82 per cent of the mustard, 24 per cent of the canaryseed and seven per cent of the flax.
"It's slim pickings this year because there weren't a lot of acres seeded, and some of the crop that was seeded when the soil was very wet really didn't produce very well," said Moats.
Crop reporters are indicating variable yields ranging from average to very poor. Canola, lentil, mustard and flax yields are variable and for the most part below average. Excess moisture and flooding at seeding time, followed by little rain during July and August, resulted in shallow root systems and reduced yields.
Average yields are predicted to be as follows: winter wheat 39 bu/ac; spring wheat 28 bu/ac; durum 24 bu/ac; oats 47 bu/ac; barley 39 bu/ac; fall rye 35 bu/ac; flax 12 bu/ac; canola 23 bu/ac mustard 600 lb./ac; lentils 800 lb./ac; peas 25 bu/ac; and canaryseed 900 lb./ac.
Topsoil moisture on cropland is reported as six per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and three per cent very short. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate; 24 per cent short and two per cent very short.
As producers seed winter wheat and fall rye, it is recommended that they "look for some kind of standing stubble that will hold the snow, particularly for the winter wheat that doesn't have as good cold hardiness as fall rye," said Moats. Stubble works includes canola, or weeds especially with the amount of unseeded acres in the southeast.
"The other thing farmers are concerned about is fertility, and how much fertilizer to apply this fall versus next spring. Producers are a little bit edgy because it was such a tough spring last year that they are concerned about the amount of nitrogen they are putting on," said Moats. "All they can work is if the land is dry enough to seed, then quite likely given a normal snow and normal spring than the field might be a little wetter, but the crops should survive."
Crop damage in southeast was caused by wind which blew swaths around. There are reports of combines getting stuck in fields in some areas. Producers are busy harvesting, seeding winter cereals, controlling weeds, baling straw and hauling bales.
