Friday Crop Report on a Thursd

[GALAXIE500]

Drove from Yorkton to Calgary yesterday. Crop nicest at Yorkton down to Regina, some late but look nice. Regina to Moose Jaw look nice but later again. Moose Jaw to Calgary are horrible. Brooks to Gleichen in particular looked very patchy and poor. Not sure if emergence, cutworms, or grasshoppers but worst crops I’ve seen in a long time .

North of the # 1 hwy where we farm pretty much sums up what we are going through. emergence , grasshoppers , very dry weather, and no rain in sight. wondering just what kind of math crop insurance will use on us next year?

I can hear it now : " We can't afford to insure you " LOL !

[BTO780]

How close are we getting to repeat of 2021? I don’t do any travelling but sure sounds like it’s not a good situation, and it’s only June 30.

High costs then throw in every curveball possible is going to make for some tough decisions.

[bucket]

North of the # 1 hwy where we farm pretty much sums up what we are going through. emergence , grasshoppers , very dry weather, and no rain in sight. wondering just what kind of math crop insurance will use on us next year?

I can hear it now : " We can't afford to insure you " LOL !

In 1988 the federal government and Devine were already talking about the problem.

Given the costs to farming and the same outcome in 1988 with little to no crop, why are the governments not talking.

Better question is why re farm groups ignoring the issue.

SARM talking about the fuel thing, they should be talking about road allowances and spraying for grasshoppers.

APAS is talking about grain contracts for the one oat grower . Grasshoppers isn't their issue either or crops burning up.

[BTO780]

In 1988 the federal government and Devine were already talking about the problem.

Given the costs to farming and the same outcome in 1988 with little to no crop, why are the governments not talking.

Better question is why re farm groups ignoring the issue.

SARM talking about the fuel thing, they should be talking about road allowances and spraying for grasshoppers.

APAS is talking about grain contracts for the one oat grower . Grasshoppers isn't their issue either or crops burning up.

They will talk and say the usual … “there are programs set in place for farmers to take advantage of”.
Also, “crap insurance has been beefed up to give more additional help”.

[SASKFARMER]

It’s just that kind of a day.

[jazz]

[helmsdale]

My region is trying as hard as it can to help make you guys with a crop a little bit of money.

It's over here. Realistically, we lost this crop in may, but technically, it thoroughly failed in june.

Cereals: at this point we're down to "hoping" we'll harvest low spots and water runs in order to get seed back. Personally have fields with less than 30% germination. The vast majority of the remainder will fail to head out. It's currently attempting to flag with most bottom leaves burnt out. Significant portions of fields have self-dessicated and will fail to even put a head in the boot. A 4 row head is in the boot on that which one holds out hope for.

Oilseeds: disaster! Many fields with less than 50% germination. Cabbage was poor, and they're attempting to flower in 90* heat. Significant portions of fields that germinated will not even flower. They are dying in place.

Pulses: Peas are ankle to maybe 1/3 calve and attempting to flower, but failing to set many pods. We'll likely have to go end to end in an effort to manage the residue, but if we get seed back, I'll be impressed.

Pastures: look like they've been sprayed with 3L/ac of Glypho. Dugouts and sloughs I haven't seen dry since the late 80s are once again barren.

The damage from this year, year 5 of drought for some around here, is going to loom large!

Gophers are humming, grasshoppers are biblical, the heat is relentless, and I had to google the definition of rain as I've essentially forgotten what it even resembles.

Context: Of the last 43 years, going back to 1980, this is the 2nd driest May-June period aside from 2015. I harvested tolerable crops in 2015 due to it being cool and having AMPLE reserve moisture. As far as Growing Degree Days (base 5C), as of yesterday, we had accumulated what we should have normally accumulated by July 28th. Largest rain was 0.32", the 2nd largest is 0.24", and the remainder are all less than a tenth and a half. Disgusting, demoralizing, and mentally draining! Bar none, this is the worst start this neighborhood has seen in a very long time, and perhaps ever. Even compared to historical records from the 1930's, we are significantly behind moisture wise. Crops are so poor, there will be no silage put up, let alone bales! Wholesale cow-herd liquidations are necessary, but this very "special" areas has yet to declare a state of emergency, which I believe is necessary to qualify for income deferral of herd dispersals.

Rain, at this point, serves no purpose but to heap insult upon injury. Weeds are stress shocked and not responding to in-crop herbicide app's. A rain now, no matter how large, does little better than ensure we get our seed back. On the other hand it'll make harvest of an absolute garbage crop a complete nightmare.

To those that have a crop, I suggest you be thankful and humble. To those who do not and are silent and suffering, you are not alone.

Helmsdale... Living the Dream!

[Guest]

You’re not alone
But the market is manipulated
Prices won’t come up until shit hits the fan

[jazz]

You’re not alone
But the market is manipulated
Prices won’t come up until shit hits the fan

This thing is toast. What I am reading out of the US is any body that got rain wasn’t enough to make a dent and the are right back into heat dome.

On top of that big hail and wind damage reports over large swathes of prime crop land. USDA can dig up all the fake acres they want. That won’t change a thing.

And stupid market living on faith and hope until the last possible second instead of bidding up the price for the true risk in this market.

Some of the crops I saw in southern sask and Ab aren’t even worth cutting for green feed. Might as well leave it stand and hope for a hell of a catch of snow this winter.

What a joke.

[sumdumguy]

This week the markets should blow wide open. Usually the first two weeks of July tell the tale. Drought is widespread and taking tight hold now, should be reflected on market demand.

Balcarres farmer tells us that he dug down 6 inches in Canola field - bit of moisture in top 4 inches and beyond that bone dry, roots sitting in dust. We are glad this heat is going to break for a week and buy us some time, usually stormy and rain exhibition week. We’ve been hailed out twice in our lifetime that week too. 🥴

[SASKFARMER]

Where in balcarres is it dry? ****

[SASKFARMER]

That’s balcarres in the background

[therealnorthernf]

Balcarres isn't dry.... a few miles east of there it is.. a dry strip (running almost straight north/south, is about 20-25 miles wide)starts just west of Abernethy runs east through Lemberg and Neudorf,.. Killaly and Melville have been getting the rain.

[SASKFARMER]

Yes that area is missing all the rains.

[sumdumguy]

Rains haven’t been General, even around here, the yard gets 7/10 and the farm 1 1/4 and more, we are only 6 miles apart. Last rain here June 18, two weeks and pretty darn dry now, durum asking for a drink. Anyone who missed those last rains is getting pretty antsy.