Saskatchewan
Warm weather in early July has advanced crop development and haying operations, although rain, hail and cabbage seedpod weevils have damaged fields.
Surveying indicates that cabbage seedpod weevil populations in the province’s canola fields are greater than last year.
Most fall cereals are in the heading to dough stages, while spring cereals are in the jointed to heading stages. Pulse crops are in the vegetative to flowering stages and flax crops are at the seedling to flowering stages. Canola and mustard is in the rosette to flowering stages.
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SOUTH
Most of southern Saskatchewan received rain in the first week of July. The Redvers area has now received more than 350 millimetres since April 1.
Some crops have been damaged by local flooding, hail and wind, as well as wheat midge, flea beetles, alfalfa weevil, cutworms and grasshoppers. There is disease pressure from cereal leaf diseases, sclerotinia, fusarium head blight and ascochyta blight.
Topsoil moisture in the south is adequate. Hay quality and pasture conditions across the region are rated as good.
CENTRAL
Topsoil moisture was rated as 16 and eight percent surplus in the east and central regions July 8. The region saw some rain in the first week of July, including more than 100 mm in the Kamsack area. Rain, along with humid conditions have made for good disease conditions.
There have been localized flooding issues, as well as damage from hail and wind. There are reports of cutworm damage and cereal leaf disease, as well as powdery mildew in pea crops and sclerotinia in canola, which has required spraying.
Most of the hay and pasture conditions in central Saskatchewan are rated as good.
NORTH
Topsoil moisture in northeastern Saskatchewan was rated as 66 percent surplus July 8 as the area received more rain, including more than 100 mm in the Star City area. The northwestern half fared better at 11 percent surplus.
The wet weather has meant localized issues with flooding, as well as disease concerns.
There have been reports of grasshopper damage in northwestern areas, as well as root rot yellowing crops.
MANITOBA
Warm and dry weather helped advance crop development and hay and spraying operations, although there are some disease risks after recent rain.
SOUTHWEST
Surplus moisture levels across the region have resulted in localized flooding issues and crop loss. The region saw varying amounts of rain at the start of the month, with the Wasagaming, Erickson and Neepawa areas each receiving more than 80 mm.
However, rain benefited corn and soybeans, which are outperforming most other crops. Twenty-five to 30 percent of the soybean crop was in the bud stage of development July 8.
Reports indicate decreased insect activity in cereal and oilseed crops. Bertha armyworm monitoring indicates low numbers in most areas.
Northwest
A storm brought as much as 150 mm of rain to the Gilbert Plans and Winnipegosis areas at the start of the month, bringing hail and causing crop lodging.
Crop development and conditions in the region vary, with the Winnipegosis, McCreary and The Pas regions lagging.
Only 10 percent of acres are affected by excess moisture, but growers in some areas near The Pas have localized issues that are worse.
Central
Warm weather has advanced crops, although some fields remain unseeded because of moisture.
Herbicide applications are complete, and growers continue to make pesticide applications.
Uneven crop development is reported in some fields, with most cereal crops at the stem elongation stage. Some spring wheat fields have already been sprayed for fusarium head blight.
Canola in the region ranges from rosette to bolting, and growers are spraying for sclerotinia.
Monitoring has identified diamondback moths in the eastern part of the region. Bertha armyworms remain a low risk.
Most pastures are rated in good to excellent condition and average hay yields are expected.
Eastern
Field conditions in the region are positive, and crops are performing well. As of July 8, winter wheat was headed out, spring cereals ranged from stem elongation to head emergence, canola was 60 to 100 percent flowering, soybeans were 80 percent flowering and corn ranged from V6 to V9.
Some fields have been sprayed for grasshoppers. Lygus bugs have been reported, although not at levels that have required action.
Interlake
The region saw varying amounts of rain at the start of the month, with the Broadview-Chatfield area receiving 50 mm of rain as well as hail. Ponding is an issue in some spots, but warm weather has helped growing conditions.
Growers have made second herbicide applications on some fields. They will also be spraying for fusarium head blight and sclerotinia. Alfalfa seed fields will also be sprayed for disease.
Hay yields are down, but the quality is good.
ALBERTA
Crop development and conditions are generally good, despite storms that caused hail damage in some parts of the province.
Bertha armyworms are appearing, but counts so far haven’t required action. Lygus bugs have been noted, but spraying hasn’t been recommended.
South
Hail caused extensive damage in the region. Many crops will recover, although there will be some losses.
Crop development elsewhere is positive, with cereal and grain crops flowering.
Surveys show cabbage seedpod weevil activity in the region.
Central
The region has seen excessive moisture and received hail near Airdrie earlier this month.
Moisture concerns persist in some canola fields, but damage varies. Some fields are drowned out while others are performing well.
Most canola fields are flowering and growers have sprayed for sclerotinia and are making fungicide applications.
There are reports of wheat midge in cereal crops.
Northeast
Topsoil moisture conditions were positive at the turn of the month and canola is flowering, but the region has received less rain than other parts of the province.
The region saw more warm weather last week, but storms were in the forecast at the end of the period.
Northwest
Crop development in the region has been ahead of last year, with cereal crops entering the boot stage and canola flowering in early July, despite issues with excessive moisture in some areas.
Parts of the region have continued to see more rain over the first two weeks of July, with Barrhead receiving more than 40 mm and Drayton Valley more than 50 mm.
Peace River
Crop development was positive in early July, and the region received rain and cooler temperatures through the first two weeks of July.
Grasshopper activity has been noted, and producers have sprayed.
