Heavy rain this week in Saskatchewan has left a lot of crops sitting in water.
According to the province’s weekly crop report released Thursday, the significant rainfall resulted in localized flooding, saturated fields and crop lodging in the hardest hit areas.
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A key concern for farmers are peas and lentils, as those crops don’t tolerate the moisture as well as cereals.
Shawn Jaques of Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation says that the impact on crops will vary by area.
According to the crop report, those outside the flooded areas are in good to excellent condition, with 51 per cent of the fall cereals, 69 per cent of the oilseeds and 70 per cent of the spring cereals and pulses at their normal developmental stages for this time of year.
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Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart says crops are among the best ever seen although he did mention that some fields have had too much moisture, especially around Estevan, Carrot River and Humboldt.
But generally speaking, Stewart said crops look lush and he can’t remember on a province-wide basis when crops looked this good.
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Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 33 per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate and one per cent short, with hay land and pasture topsoil moisture rated at 18 per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate and two per cent short.
Aside from flooding, damage to crops over the past week was caused by hail, wind, leaf spot and root rot.
With files from The Canadian Press
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