Weekly crop report: it’s getting dry in southwest Sask.

Across the province, seventy-five per cent of the pulse crops and fall and spring cereals are at their normal stages of development, while 70 per cent of the oilseeds are at their normal stages of development for this time of year, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report.

Many areas reported rain showers this week, with large amounts recorded in the west-central region.

The Rosthern area received 54 mm of rain, the Kindersley and Moosomin areas 30 mm, the Biggar area 35 mm and the Frobisher area 20 mm. Many areas in the southwestern and westcentral regions remain very dry, including Gull Lake, Shaunavon, Outlook and Dinsmore, which have received less than 25 mm of rain since April 1.

Spotty rain showers were reported in the region during the past week, with most of those areas recording less than 5 mm of precipitation. Rain is needed in much of the region to sustain crop and pasture growth. Crops in some areas are stressed and showing the affects of dry conditions. Concerns remain that current soil moisture levels will not be enough to support a crop if rain does not come soon. Some hay fields have prematurely headedout. Livestock producers have started to cut hay.

Rainfall in the region ranged from nil to 9 mm in the Big Beaver area. The Gravelbourg area reported 6 mm, the Success and Leader areas 5 mm. The Hazenmore area has received the most precipitation (136 mm) in the region since April 1, while the Shaunavon and Gull Lake areas have received the least (25 mm) in the region since April 1.

Topsoil moisture conditions have worsened in the past week. Crop soil moisture is rated as 33 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 18 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 28 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 28 per cent very short. Crop District 3BS is reporting that 47 per cent of the cropland and 50 per cent of the hay land and pasture remain very short of topsoil moisture at this time.

Crop District 3BS is reporting 26 per cent of the cropland and 42 per cent of the hay land and pasture are very short of topsoil moisture.

Crop District 4A is reporting 20 per cent of cropland and 24 per cent of the hay land and pasture are very short of topsoil moisture. In the southwest, 70 per cent of the hay and pasture acres are under some stress due to lack of moisture.

The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lack of moisture and insects such as flea beetles and cutworms in canola.

Farmers are busy controlling weeds and starting to cut hay.