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Western Producer Crop Report

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Published: July 16, 2009

Alberta

South

  • Ten to 30 millimetres of rain fell.
  • Surface moisture is reported as 28 percent poor, 45 fair, with the remainder average or better.
  • Cereals heading, canola bolting, pulses flowering.
  • Hay yields disappointing.
  • Crop conditions down 15 percent from average.
  • Wheat midge emerging in the central and eastern areas. Cabbage seedpod weevil being watched.
  • Insect and disease pressure near Vulcan.

Central

Northwest

  • Spotty showers, with up to 30 mm of general rain north of Lloydminster.
  • Crops poor to fair overall.
  • Grasshoppers and flea beetles a concern for producers in southern region.
  • Wheat midge should be 10 percent emerged by the end of the weekend.

Northeast

  • Surface moisture declining, with 80 percent poor.
  • Crops rated generally poor.
  • Grasshoppers and flea beetle pressure.
  • Pastures are rated at 92 percent poor, with the remainder fair.
  • Hay crop late and poor due to drought.
  • Wheat heading underway.

Peace and B.C.

  • Surface moisture levels falling and crop condition declining. Showers were inconsistent.
  • Poor early hay yields.
  • Crops from average to fair and short of moisture.
  • Grasshoppers becoming a concern in drier areas.
  • Pastures 54 percent poor, 41 fair and five good.

Saskatchewan

Southwest

  • Up to 50 mm of rain at Coderre and Shaunavon. Up to 100 mm at Ponteix, with hail reported at Rockglen.
  • Cropland topsoil moisture was reported as 65 percent adequate. Haylands and pasture were 45 percent adequate.
  • Hay in less than average condition.
  • Grasshopper and gopher damage. Flea beetles and cabbage seedpod weevils also found in threshold numbers.
  • Wheat midge males and females emerging in low numbers.

Southeast

  • Spotty showers mixed with general rain improving crop conditions. Up to 26 mm near Tantallon. Hail at Minton.
  • Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture conditions 36 percent adequate, 51 short and 13 very short. Grain land 47, 44 and six.
  • Grasshoppers being controlled in lentils. Wheat midge starting to emerge in Estevan and Weyburn areas.

West-central

  • Rain at Unity, 21 mm, and Biggar 19 mm, Rosetown six mm.
  • Some crops being terminated. Some in eastern areas may provide average yields.
  • Hay poor. Pasture very poor. Some cattle being dispersed.
  • Early cereals headed.
  • Grasshoppers and gophers reported.

East-central

  • Scattered showers failed to support rapidly advancing crops.
  • Cropland topsoil moisture remains adequate in most areas.
  • Forages late and average to below average in yield.
  • Early cereals headed, with later wheat aligning with midge development. Midge threat north of Yorkton.
  • Hay yields disappointing.

Northwest

  • Rain and hail near Spears resulted in significant crop damage. Rain overall in the region from six to 25 mm.
  • Crop soil moisture 82 percent adequate, hay 74 percent.
  • Haying and pasture delayed and fair to poor. Some cattle being dispersed.
  • Reports of grasshoppers and midge.

Northeast

  • Crops advancing rapidly. Up to 35 mm of rain near Nipawin, 21 mm at Vonda.
  • Crops two weeks late in north, one week in south.
  • Cropland topsoil moisture good.
  • Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture average. Hay yield poor.
  • Wheat midge threats in Prince Albert and Rosthern.

Manitoba

Southwest

  • Rainfall ranged from 15 to 150 mm. It will benefit pastures but came too late for some areas because pastures have turned brown.
  • First hay cut is 33 percent done and yields are average to below average.
  • Canola crops are flowering and reseeded crops have started to bolt.
  • Flax crops should be in full bloom next week.

Southeast and Red River Valley

  • Rain ranges from trace to 60 mm.
  • Soil is moisture rated as full across the region.
  • Cereal crops vary from tillering to heading stage. Spring wheat and barley are the most advanced.
  • Winter wheat is in good condition.
  • Corn is now 45 to 60 centimetres tall.
  • Pastures rated as good.

Central and Interlake

  • Rainfall was scattered. Starbuck and Elm Creek reported 60 mm.
  • Corn is 1.2 metres tall in some fields.
  • Insect trap counts are low for bertha armyworm and diamondback moths.
  • Leafcutter bee release started last week and continues this week in northern Interlake.
  • Producers applying fungicide on canola for sclerotinia and for leaf diseases on cereal crops.
  • Many hayfields have been cut, but standing water is restricting field travel in some areas.

Northwest

  • Evening temperatures fell below 5 C in some areas over the weekend.
  • Rainfall of zero to 58 mm reported, but most areas received five to 15 mm.
  • Twenty-five to 75 percent of cereal crops are headed out and 45 to 80 percent of canola is flowering.
  • Low disease levels reported.

Conditions as of July 13.

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