Saskatchewan crop report as of Aug. 8
Crops are podding and filling, although cool, wet weather is delaying development.
Rain in early August slowed haying progress and reduced quality. Livestock producers had 90 percent of the hay crop cut on Aug. 5, according to the provincial crop report. Eight percent of the crop is rated as excellent, 73 percent is good and 19 percent is fair.
Across the province, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 77 percent adequate. Pasture conditions are 64 percent good.
South
Rain and cool weather slowed crop development in early August.
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Most crops are in the podding and filling stages, while some later seeded crops are flowering.
Some producers in the Swift Current, Stewart Valley and Gull Lake areas have started harvesting with the desiccation of peas and lentils, while other areas remain as many as two weeks behind normal development.
In the southeast, 22 percent of topsoil moisture was rated as surplus on Aug. 5. Conditions were better in the southwest.
Most hay crops are rated as good.
There are reports of hail damage in the Frobisher, Glenavon, Wilcox and Vanguard areas. The most severe damage is reported in the Bracken and Orkney areas.
Damage from grasshoppers and bertha armyworms has also been reported in the southeast.
Central
Most crops are podding and filling, although many fields are two weeks behind normal development compared to recent years.
Rain continued to fall in early August, with the Langenburg region receiving 24 millmetres and the Landis area 37 mm.
Some pulses are being desiccated in the Perdue, Major and Marengo areas.
The west-central region is furthest ahead in haying operations. Conditions across the region are good to excellent and quality is largely rated as good.
Rains have helped producers in dry regions and there is little surplus topsoil moisture across the region.
North
Crop conditions are good, although development remains as many as two weeks behind normal in some areas and could use warmer weather.
In the northeast, early seeded crops have started to turn and are podding and filling.
Farmers continue to report surplus moisture and have benefited from drier weather in early August.
In the northwest, dry conditions are reported in some areas.
Hay quality in the region is largely rated as good.
Grasshopper damage has been reported in the Barthel, Meadow Lake, Dorintosh and Pierceland areas.
