By Alice McFarlane

Dry weather, wind stress Saskatchewan crops

Jun 24, 2021 | 4:25 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Soil moisture conditions continue to decline with persistent hot weather and wind.

Most farmers need more rain, especially in the southern and west-central regions of the province, in order to sustain crop and pasture growth, according to Matt Struthers crop extension specialists with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.

“We definitely need rain,” Struthers said. “With the warm days we’ve had, the warm days in the forecast, and the wind, the soil moisture is gone.”

The northeast and east-central regions saw the most rain for the reporting period Jun. 15 to 21. The most precipitation was reported in the Spruce Home and Rhein areas with 32 millimeters. Turtleford and Meadow Lake areas reported 14 millimeters and Melfort had 10 millimeters.

Struthers said the crop is starting to show signs of strain.

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“A lot of crop is looking stressed. It’s maturing quite rapidly,” Struthers said.

There was frost reported in northern and central regions on the nights of Jun. 20 and into the morning of Jun. 21. Struthers said damage was rated as mild to severe but the extent of the damage is not known yet.

“The biggest crop of concern is canola. It just doesn’t take a liking to frost and it can take a beating,” he said.

Not only did the strong dry winds cause crop damage by sandblasting the plants and drying out the soil it also delayed herbicide application.

Struthers said when weeds are allowed to mature and establish it moves past the point where the weeds can be effectively controlled.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW