Depending on where you are in the province, it’s left a mixed bag in terms of weather. farmers This season he is battling different struggles.
Crop extension specialist Shannon Friesen says many growers on the east side of the province are dealing with excess moisture, while the southwest and west central are dealing with drought conditions.
“We have quite a crop that has actually turned yellow due to over- dampand to be in really standing water.” Friesen says. “We definitely have some drought stress also happening on the west side of the province due to the lack of moisture.”
Friesen says the recent rains have been helpful in propelling crops, but some heat is expected to speed up the process as well.
Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Agriculture Says many crops are behind their normal stages of growth for this time of year, and says warmer weather will help crops grow and wet fields dry out.
Friesen says to need opposite fields, it’s probably already too late.
“We have growers in those drier areas where some crops are growing ahead of time, and drying out prematurely.” Friesen says. “So some of that rain isn’t really going to be of any use.”
Friesen says there are fields where rain will help not only for crops but also for pastures.
The cropland top soil moisture is rated as nine percent surplus, 71 percent sufficient, 18 percent low and two percent very low. Top soil moisture content of grass and pasture land is rated as 8 percent surplus, 66 percent adequate, 22 percent low and four percent very low.
The ministry says that recent rains will improve grass crops, but projected yields will remain below average.
The province has experienced mainly drought conditions in the past few years. Friesen says farmer’s optimism is growing.
“There’s a lot of things we’ve thrown at us over the years, but for the most part this year, I think, the optimism is something else. As long as we can develop things, things should really be fine for us.” Friesen it is said.
Most of the crop damage this week was caused by localized flooding, strong winds, extremely dry soil conditions, hailstorms and leaf spot diseases. Farmers are trying to cope with the damage caused by the growing locust population as well as the gophers that damage crops.
Manufacturers are currently focusing on applying fungicides and insecticides, searching for pests, fixing equipment, and mowing.
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