Lack of moisture causing some concern for crops
Average to low yields reported, with canola especially suffering from the heat
Crop yields across the province are suffering from a lack of moisture, with reported yields currently ranging from average to well below average.
This comes as no surprise to Shannon Friesen, crops extension specialist for Saskatchewan Agriculture. With the last couple of months turning out dry and the recent hot temperatures, this was to be expected.
“(It’s) certainly not looking to be a bumper crop this year, but we are hopeful that it is an average year for us,” said Friesen.
Receiving rain now would get mixed reviews from farmers, as those harvesting earlier-seeded crops are taking advantage of the dry weather to get the crops off in good condition, while those with later-seeded crops could use more moisture to help heads and pods fill for better yield.
What would be a benefit to all is significant rain in the fall and heavy, wet snow in early winter before freeze-up to prepare the fields for next year, said Friesen.
“If we do not get the moisture, you know, things can look a lot different next spring, but there’s still plenty of time for things to change,” she said, “so we’re just hopeful we’ll get some moisture over the next six months.”
Most of Saskatchewan did not see any rain between July 24 and 30, according to the most recent provincial crop report, and the hot temperatures that accompanied the dry conditions did a number on canola.
“We have seen some damage from the hot temperatures, particularly in canola fields,” said Friesen. “That causes what is called heat blasting, which is essentially abortion of the flowers, which then causes abortion of the pods.
“When the flowers themselves are aborted — so they don’t form, or they quickly die off — the pod cannot grow there,” she said. “If a pod cannot grow there then we do not get any seeds inside the pod, so then our yield is reduced. The plant just gets too hot and can’t really cope, so it starts to get rid of its flowers.”
She said aborted canola pods have already started showing up in fields, although it is difficult to tell the extent of damage before swathing and combining starts.
Cropland topsoil moisture conditions across the province are rated as 39-per-cent adequate, 43-per-cent short and 18-per-cent very short.
Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 33-per-cent adequate, 39-per-cent short and 28-per-cent very short.
(It’s) certainly not looking to be a bumper crop this year, but we are hopeful that it is an average year for us.