Rain, hail and cool conditions slowing down Saskatchewan farmers: Crop report

The triple threats of rain, hail and cool weather are slowing down progress for producers in Saskatchewan.

According to the latest crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, which covered the week ending Monday, significant rainfall left many fields saturated, with flooding in low-lying areas, while producers in some parts of the province will be assessing damage caused by hail.

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Additionally, the ministry said cool and wet conditions are slowing down crop development and making it hard for farmers to complete spraying and haying work.

While the entire east-central region of Saskatchewan saw heavy rainfall in the week covered by the report, the agriculture ministry said the heaviest rains hit the Kuroki area (165 millimetres), followed by the Marengo area (145 mm), Mikado (140 mm) and Raymore (134 mm).

In cropland, topsoil moisture levels were rated as 36 per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate and one per cent short. In hayland, moisture levels were sitting at 25 per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate and three per cent short. In pastures, topsoil moisture conditions were rated as 17 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate and three per cent short.

“Most crop types remain near normal development stages, although some have been delayed due to cool and wet weather,” the ministry noted.

According to the report, three quarters of fall cereal crops and perennial forages are at their normal stage of development, with the rest lagging behind. Two thirds of the province’s pulse crops are developing normally with the remainder behind. The story is worse for oilseeds and spring cereals, with only about half of the crops at their normal stages of development and the remainder lagging behind.

“The west half of the province has the fewest acres of crops that are behind normal development due to warmer and drier conditions this year,” the agriculture ministry added.

“Crop conditions vary across the province, largely due to the amount and timing of rainfall so far this year. Two-thirds of fall and spring cereal crops are in good condition, with one-quarter rated as excellent. For pulses, two-thirds of crops are in good condition, with majority of the remaining crops in excellent condition. Finally, most oilseed crops were in good to excellent condition at the end of June.”

While most livestock producers haven’t yet started their first hay cut of 2026, the ministry said hay quality is also quite variable so far this season, with 28 per cent rated as excellent, 56 per cent good, 15 per cent fair and one per cent poor.

“Producers are hoping for warmer and drier weather to allow haying operations to get underway,” the report read.

“The wet conditions have hampered in-crop herbicide applications so producers will be looking to complete these as soon as possible. Focus will then shift to scouting crops and spraying for insects and disease when necessary. Livestock producers are hoping for some drier conditions to get haying operations underway.”