Local farmers may feel relieved after recent rainfall as many areas across the province are in need of moisture to cure dry conditions. The moisture is needed to assist with crop growth, hay and pasture development according to this weeks Saskatchewan crop report.
Recent rainfall has significantly improved topsoil moisture for the Northwest region, which includes Lloydminster, but subsoil remains fairly dry. Cropland Topsoil moisture is rated as 77 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 70 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short. The Turtleford area has received the most rain since the April totalling 179.5mm of precipitation.
The report says rainfall was late for the majority of first-cut hay, but it will encourage growth for a later cut. Producers will have to deal with two crop stages in shallow-seeded crops, which will cause issues for crop staging and harvest.
Farmers may have difficulties with spraying operations due to the rain as in-crop herbicide applications are in a late-stage as the weeds start to grow. Farmers are currently controlling weeds and getting ready for haying.