Flooding impacts millions of acres of Sask.crops

Early estimates regarding the impact of f looding in Eastern Saskatchewan suggests that between two million to three million acres of fields have been f looded and are unlikely to produce a crop according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s weekly Crop Report for the period of July 1 to 7.

The report highlights that many producers on the east side of the province are continuing to deal with localized f looding and saturated fields.

Weather conditions have improved, many crops in these regions have been significantly affected by moisture.

Province wide, the recent warm weather has helped with crop development and haying. Livestock producers now have six per cent of the hay crop cut and one per cent baled or put into silage.

Topsoil moisture conditions are improving for many areas.

Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 34 per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate and two per cent short.

Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 25 per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate, three per cent short and one per cent very short.

The majority of fall cereals are in the shotblade to dough stages of crop development, while most spring cereals are in the tillering to shotblade stages.

The majority of pulse crops are in the vegetative to f lowering stages and f lax crops are mostly in the seedling to f lowering crop stages.

Most Canola and mustard crops are in the seedling to f lowering stages.

Crop damage this week is attributed to excess moisture, localized f looding, hail, wind and insects such as the cabbage seedpod weevil.

Root rots and leaf spot diseases have also caused some damage.

There is adequate water available for livestock, and pasture conditions are rated as 27 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good, 10 per cent fair and one per cent poor.

Farmers have also been busy with controlling pests and also haying.