Hot and dry weather causing irreversible damage to area crops

With dropping topsoil moisture conditions across the province, concerns about harvest yields and quality is starting to grow according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crop Report for the period of July 6 to 12.

The prolonged hot and dry conditions which have settled in over the province this summer have left irreversible crop damage in many portions of the Southwest.

“Crops that are flowering will be hit the hardest with the heat causing the blooms to abort and are no longer be able to set seed. Yield and quality of all crops has been affected across the region and any rain now is desperately needed to help later seeded crops,” the Crop Report stated.

“Many crops are thin, stunted, uneven or are drying up rapidly in the heat. Crops in the region are rated as fair to very poor. Fifty-five per cent of fall cereals, 45 per cent of spring cereals, 41 per cent of oilseeds and 48 per cent of pulse crops are rated as being in their normal stage of development.”

Moisture conditions in the Southwest continue to fall as a result of the extremely hot weather. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 60 per cent very short, 34 per cent short, with only six per cent reported adequate. Hay and pasture land is also showing the impact of the heat and lack of moisture, with 75 per cent very short, 22 per cent short, and just three per cent adequate.

“Any rainfall received now will be too late to make a difference for the cropland, hay land and pasture in the region,” the Crop Report stated.

Livestock producers across the Southwest are busy with haying operations, having already cut 22 per cent of the hay fields, with 53 per cent of that cut now baled or put into silage. The quality of hay cut in the Southwest is 32 per cent good, 58 per cent fair, and 10 per cent poor. Hay yields are also significantly lower than normal, and many producers are reporting a second cut will not be possible later this summer.

Regionally, additional crop damage is occurring as a result of gophers and insects such as grasshoppers. Some producers have been spraying salvageable pulse crops and hay stands for grasshoppers. In response to the feed shortage this year, Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation is doubling the Low Yield Appraisal threshold values for customers who salvage their cereal or pulse crops as feed, without negatively impacting future individual coverage. Customers are asked to contact their local SCIC office before they graze, bale or silage any damaged crops to discuss their options.

Additionally, the Government of Saskatchewan

is making changes to temporarily increase the maximum funding a livestock producer can receive from the Farm and Ranch Water Infrastructure Program (FRWIP) for dugouts, wells and pipelines for agricultural use.