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By battlefordsNOW Staff

Crop report

Lack of rain needed for northwest according to latest crop report

Jul 3, 2025 | 3:49 PM

The Northwest region has been one of the driest this summer, which has led to poor crop growth and in some cases, already going to seed.

According to the Crop Report for the period of June 24 to 30, it was fairly dry throughout the region that encompasses Census Division 16: Blaine Lake, Canwood, North Battleford, Radisson and Spiritwood and Census Division 17: Glaslyn, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, Pierceland and St. Walburg areas.

“A lot more rain is going to be needed to improve growing conditions,” said Kim Stonehouse, Crop Extension Specialist for the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture in Tisdale, Sask.

“Actually, the topsoil moisture content has dropped over the last week just because of the limited amount of rain that fell,” he said of the report, which noted that North Battleford and area only got 34 millimetres of rain last week though the rainfall wasn’t enough to make a difference.

That has led to the beginning of the haying season, though the crops are rated at poor and 97 per cent of the hay is still standing.

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“Only three per cent has been cut.”

Stonehouse explained that currently, 13 per cent is in excellent quality, 25 per cent is good, 38 percent is fair and 24 per cent is poor.

Compared to this time last year, the crop report said the hay quality was “rated as 25 per cent excellent, 69 per cent good and six per cent fair.”

(Screenshot/Saskatchewan Government)

At the time, across the province, overall conditions did well thanks to significant rainfall. Now, however, because of the ongoing dry conditions, a number of crops including perennial forages like alfalfa, clover and fall cereals are roughly 55 per cent ahead of where they should be. Pulse crops and oilseeds are only 10 per cent and 17 per cent ahead, respectively.

“They’re going to seed and potentially, the yield could be impacted from this,” he said.

Weather forecasts for the next week are expected to maintain high temperatures and sunny days. Even if there was rain, it may not be enough.

“Some of the crops that have headed out and are beginning to…ripen, they are potentially going to be impacted by the lack of moisture,” said Stonehouse.

“Further rain on any of those particular crops may not be a benefit to them because they’re sort of end of life.”

However, there may be some good news – for the crops that remain green or haven’t completely podded, they may have the potential to tiller or create new growth.

“That will potentially give a better yield.”

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cjnbnews@pattisonmedia.com