The hay crop in Saskatchewan is surprisingly good considering the late cropping and the lack of rainfall during crucial stages of growth.
While yields are down with seven per cent of hay cut, quality appears better than expected, with one per cent excellent, 38 per cent good, 41 per cent fair and only two per cent very poor, according to the Saskatchewan Agriculture weekly crop report.
Hay crops in the Moose Jaw Weyburn region are variable but better with 52 per cent good, 33 per cent fair, and 15 per cent poor.
In the South Country to Central Butte, hay crops are six per cent excellent, 41 per cent good, 41 per cent fair, and 12 per cent poor.
Pastures have greened up but still have reduced carrying capacity across the province.
Rain for the week ended July 7 varied from two inches in Big Beaver to half an inch at Mortlach.
Rain, hail, and wind on that weekend damaged some crops in a region from Mossbank east to Spring Valley and Truax.
Most rain in the region has been 10 inches this year south of Moose Jaw. One spot about 15 km south of Moose Jaw has had 12 inches this year.
Crops development is still behind normal with 32 per cent of spring cereals in the heading stage, 38 per cent of canola, and 54 per cent of pulse crops flowering.
Usually, canola and pulse crops are fully flowered by now.
One farmer northeast of Moose Jaw said the late rain has affected his crop in three ways. Not much help came for early seeded crops but his late seeded crops are really benefiting.
He wasn't sure how much help the rain was to crops in between the early and late seeded.
Most canola was seeded late and will benefit substantially.
Ron Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net.
