Canada Markets

Saskatchewan Crop Conditions Seen Improving

Cliff Jamieson
By  Cliff Jamieson , Canadian Grains Analyst
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Saskatchewan Agriculture's Crop Report as of June 11 estimates crops rated at normal stages of growth ranging from 70% of oilseed crops to 76% of pulse crops and fall cereals, ahead of the same week in 2017 as well as the three-year average. (DTN graphic by Cliff Jamieson)

As of June 11, Saskatchewan Agriculture reported vastly improved crop conditions for the province, although some areas of the eastern and southeastern areas of the province as well as the northwest of the province have received excessive rains. Thursday's radar shows clouds rolling across southern areas of the province, with the possibility of unwanted rain dumped in some eastern areas.

Across the province, topsoil moisture has improved to 73% of the province rated Adequate, the highest rating for this category seen so far this crop year, while the area rated as Short to Very Short has fallen for a third straight week to 18% from a high of 53% a few short weeks ago, the lowest reported this crop year. Despite heavy rains seen in some areas over the past week, the area rated Surplus topsoil moisture fell three points from the previous data release to 9% of the province's cropland. This time last year, 7% of the province's topsoil was rated as Surplus, 52% of the province was rated Adequate, while 41% of the area was rated as Short to Very Short. The driest areas of the province remain in the Southwest and West Central regions of the province.

Crops have responded well to a faster-than-average pace of planting and earlier heat, while making good use of timely moisture. The overall crop is rated as good to fair condition, with 76% of the fall cereals (57%), 74% of spring cereals (66%), 70% of oilseeds (60%) and 76% of pulse crops (66%) rated at normal growth stages, with the three-year average in brackets, as seen on the attached graphic.

Given a number of selected crops monitored by the province's government, the crop condition index (CCI) points to deterioration in the condition for the winter wheat crop and durum crop over the past two weeks. The crop condition index calculated for spring wheat, oats, barley, flax, canola, soybeans, peas and lentils all show improvement over the past two weeks as crops react to timely precipitation.

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The most favorable responses seen in the CCI calculated over the past two weeks are seen in canola, which saw the index gain 24 points to an index of 173 while the soybean crop in Saskatchewan saw the index gain 41 points to 167. Of the 10 crops looked at, winter wheat showed the largest deterioration with the condition index falling 63 points from 196 to 133.

As well, of the 10 crops looked at, only winter wheat, durum and soybean crops result in a CCI that is lower than the respective three-year average for the crop. Relative to the three-year average, canola has responded best given its CCI that is 15.7 points higher than the three-year average.

Current National Weather Service precipitation maps for the next seven days are not showing prospects for widespread coverage for the province over the period, while current DTN maps are calling for even lesser amounts of precipitation across the crop growing on both sides of the border than is forecast by government.

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Cliff Jamieson can be reached at cliff.jamieson@dtn.com

Follow Cliff Jamieson on Twitter @CliffJamieson

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