ALBERTA
Peace
Heavy rains in the Peace district continue to cause havoc. A mud slide following a July 11 rainstorm washed out a section of CN track between Grande Prairie and Grande Cache disrupting grain deliveries. Early seeded crops are managing well but later seeded crops are struggling in the wet conditions. Polish canola is showing significant signs of root rot. Yellowing in some fields. Canola crops seeded along the Highway 41 corridor may be plowed down. Hay crops are deteriorating. Yields are heavy but wet weather deters curing. Fescue seed crops are lush. Clover crops are heavy but if the weather doesn’t warm up they won’t set any seed and may have to be cut for silage.
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North/Central
Drier, warmer weather has accelerated crop growth in many areas. Crops are rated as good to excellent in the central regions and fair to good in the northeast. Grasshopper outbreaks have been noted around Barrhead. Bertha army worm moth counts are causing concern in some regions. Haying is about 40 percent done with above average yields. Canola and peas are flowering, cereals are heading out. Spraying continues in some regions.
South
Haying ranges from 40 percent done at Cardston to complete in the Brooks area. Rain is needed in most of the southern dryland area because wind and heat are starting to stress crops. Irrigation is in full swing. More heat is needed for corn crops. Insects continue to be a major problem around Vulcan and Foremost where the lygus bug is causing some trouble. Oilseeds are in various stages of development with earlier seeded crops setting pods. Cereals have good yield potential but need rain.
SASKATCHEWAN
North
Northwestern crops are the healthiest in the province. Cereals, broadleafs and hay are all lush and bountiful because of hearty rains and robust warmth. Hay is yielding up to two tonnes per acre. Some fungal diseases are appearing. The northeast had heavy rains last week and considerable hail damage. Hay is not yielding as well as in the west. Some wheat midge spraying. Fungal diseases appearing around Prince Albert and Humboldt. Across the north cereals are about one third at or past heading, flax is one third at or past flowering, canola is 80 percent flowered, fall cereals are two-thirds at or past the dough stage.
Central
Some wind, flooding and hail damage from intense rainfall in some areas. Moisture conditions generally are dry, with rain still needed. Some fungal diseases have appeared. Bertha army worms are marching. Moisture conditions are better toward the east. Some wheat midge spraying. Hay is yielding one to one and a half tonnes per acre, although yields vary wildly. Across central areas spring cereals are more than half headed out, flax is about 42 percent flowered, canola crops are more than 80 percent flowering, pulse crops are 82 percent flowering, and fall cereals are about three-quarters at the dough stage.
South
Southwestern crops need rain, but not as much as those in the southeast, where near-drought conditions prevail. Heavy localized rains have caused some flooding damage near Carnduff, Oxbow, and Stoughton. Southeastern crops are short, uneven and experiencing second growth. Some weed control problems because of staggered crops.
MANITOBA
Northwest/Interlake
Warm weather and rain helped crops but halted haying. In the northwest region, over half of the hay is cut and laying in fields, degrading rapidly. Rainfall varied from 10 millimetres to more than 125 mm. In the northwest, cereals are starting to fill. In the Interlake, 45 percent of wheat and 30 percent of barley has headed. More than half of canola and up to 30 percent of flax is flowering. Last week, some farmers sprayed canola and applied fungicides to cereals. There is some diamondback moth activity.
West
Soil moisture conditions have improved to good ratings after 25 to 50 mm of rain. Warm weather helped growth: cereals are starting to fill, most canola and field peas are flowering, and flax is up to 30 percent flowering. Some farmers have sprayed canola for sclerotinia control and cereals for leaf disease and wheat midge. Haying was slowed by showers and humid weather.
Red River Valley
Excess moisture is damaging some crops. Rainfall ranged from 5 to 150 mm. In lower fields, standing water is causing yellowing. High humidity and rain has hurt quality and yield of hay. Around Morris and Altona, cereal development is delayed. Other areas report cereals headed, with some entering the early dough stage. Canola and flax are flowering. Winter cereals are showing the first signs of ripening. Farmers are spraying for sclerotinia and leaf diseases. Grasshoppers are a problem, Bertha army worms are starting to show up, and cutworms continue to bother farmers around Ste. Anne.
