Crops are developing nicely across the province, but some farmers are hesitant to talk about prospects.
A Rockglen farmer noted his peas and lentils are the best in 25 years of farming “but…it's not in the bin yet.”
Slow crop emergence before mid-June rains have left a lot of fields exposed to threat of an earlier than usual frost.
Provincially, 35 per cent of spring cereals, 46 per cent of oilseeds and 25 per cent of pulse crops were behind normal development, according to the Saskatchewan Agriculture crop report for the week ended July 16.
By comparison, last year at that time eight per cent of spring cereals, 10 per cent of oilseeds and five per cent of pulse crops were behind normal development.
Topsoil moisture conditions are good on cultivated land with 86 per cent adequate or better, 13 per cent short and only one per cent very short.
In the Moose Jaw region, almost 90 per cent is adequate or better while just over 90 per cent in the southwest is adequate or better.
Hay and pastureland across the province is 84 per cent adequate or better.
Rain and hail during the week damaged crops in the Moose Jaw region.
Between two-thirds of an inch and three inches of rain fell southeast of Moose Jaw in the Baildon-Briercrest area.
In the Tugaske-Eyebrow area, a July 13 storm damaged crops with hail but winds damaged campers in Douglas Park and farm buildings.
One Tugaske family prepared their new recreational vehicle for holidays and then drove into town, coming home to find the wind had tipped over the RV, blown out windows in the house and had torn off the roof.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net.
