Livestock producers keep working on their hay crops.
Haying continues to progress in the province as producers now have 20 per cent of the hay crop cut and 25 per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as four per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 32 per cent fair, and 17 per cent poor.
Overall, hay yields are well below normal and producers in some areas of the province will likely be in short supply.
Estimated average dryland hay yields at this time are 0.9 tons per acre for alfalfa,1 ton for alfalfa/brome grass, 0.7 tons for other tame hay, and 1.7 tons per acre for greenfeed. Estimated average irrigated hay yields are 1.6 tons per acre for alfalfa, 1.2 tons per acre for alfalfa/brome grass, and 2.3 tons per acre for greenfeed.
Many producers say there will not be a second cut of hay this year.
Rainfall last week ranged from nil to 83 mm in the Sonningdale area.
Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as three per cent surplus, 84 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short, and one per cent very short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as one per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short, and two per cent very short.
Some crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. This includes 76 per cent of fall cereals, 67 per cent of the spring cereals, 55 per cent of oilseeds, and 69 per cent of the pulse crops. Some crops are one to two weeks behind in development.
A complete version of the Crop Report is available online.
