Some Sask. crops damaged by hail and too much rain

Many areas of the province had hail and strong winds this past week, damaging some crops.

According to the weekly crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, the Tisdale region reported damaged crops and property due to storms last Thursday. As well, isolated areas in the southwest region received heavy hail over the weekend that reportedly damaged crops.

Some areas also received heavy rainfall. The Rama area, which is east of Wadena, received the most moisture with 98 millimetres.

Overall, crop development is progressing in the province as a result of warm weather and the recent rainfall.

Haying has started throughout the province. Livestock producers now have eight per cent of the hay crop cut and three per cent baled or put into silage. Hay quality is currently rated as eight per cent excellent, 66 per cent good, 20 per cent fair and six per cent poor.

Farmers in regions that received rainfall over the past few weeks have reported improvements in pasture development.

Moisture conditions continued to improve across the province thanks to recent rainfalls over the past few weeks, especially in the southeast and east-central regions. Heavy rains resulted in more land, specifically in the northeast and northwest regions, rated as surplus for topsoil moisture and showing symptoms of flood damage in fields.

The majority of crop damage this week was caused by flooding, hail and wind.

There are also reports of damage caused by dry conditions in the southern and east-central regions.