Wild weather both a blessing and curse for Saskatchewan crops

Wild weather brought much needed moisture to some parts of Saskatchewan, but also caused severe damage to fields.

Saskatchewan Agriculture said Thursday rainfall ranged from trace amounts to 72 millimetres in the Rhein area, however, some areas in the southwest and west-central still need significant rain to help crops develop and fill.

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Provincially, crop land topsoil is rated at three per cent surplus, 59 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short, and six per cent very short.

Crop conditions range from fair to excellent, with 81 per cent of fall cereals, 77 per cent of spring cereals, 75 per cent of oil seeds and 79 per cent of pulse crops at normal development stages for this time of year.

Hail, strong winds and localized flooding caused damage to crops in the past week, with diseases such as sclerotinia and fusarium head blight also causing damage. Flower crops have also been damaged by heat blasting.

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Farmers continue with hay operations, with 22 per cent of the hay crop cut and 26 per cent baled. Quality is rated at eight per cent excellent, 62 per cent good, 27 per cent fair, and two per cent poor.

Swaths are reported as smaller than normal, with pasture growth limited in some areas.

Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated at two per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short, and 14 per cent very short.