Mid-July 2026 Crop Report (East-Central Saskatchewan / Local View)
Summer is flying by as always—those long Russian winters feel like they last forever, but the recent heat has been a big help. It dried up some ground and gave the crop a nice jump overnight. Overall, we’re still running about a week behind normal development.
Cereals:
• HRS wheat and durum: Early fields are mostly headed; later-seeded stands are at flag leaf or just starting to head. Fungicide spraying continues, though some have chosen to skip it. We’re in full fight mode against fusarium—anyone who’s lived through it knows how much it sucks on quality and yield.
• Barley: Full headed on most fields and the majority have received a disease spray. There’s a lot of barley out there this year, but like many cereals, it doesn’t love excess water, so expectations aren’t massive in the wetter spots.
Oilseeds:
• Canola: Full flower to one or two cabbage stages on earlier fields; later-seeded crops are just bolting. Cabbage seedpod weevil is present, but numbers are dropping in many fields as more crops advance into flower.
• Flax: Flowering and looking better than earlier in the season.
• Canary seed: Also looking improved.
Pulses:
Peas and lentils really hate standing water—damage is already done in the low spots, and those areas will produce nothing. Keep an eye out for aphids in the surviving stands.
Forage & Livestock:
First-cut hay is underway and looks good compared to last year. Most fields probably won’t need a second cut. With drier conditions now, the second cut (where it happens) won’t be that strong. Pastures are holding up well for the time being.
Overall Thoughts:
The heat has helped, but the earlier excess moisture left its mark, especially on pulses and water-sensitive cereals. Crops jumped with the warmer weather, but variability remains high. I’m sick of living in the sprayer—what are others seeing in your areas? How are your later-seeded fields progressing, and any updates on weevil pressure, disease, or hay?
Summer is flying by as always—those long Russian winters feel like they last forever, but the recent heat has been a big help. It dried up some ground and gave the crop a nice jump overnight. Overall, we’re still running about a week behind normal development.
Cereals:
• HRS wheat and durum: Early fields are mostly headed; later-seeded stands are at flag leaf or just starting to head. Fungicide spraying continues, though some have chosen to skip it. We’re in full fight mode against fusarium—anyone who’s lived through it knows how much it sucks on quality and yield.
• Barley: Full headed on most fields and the majority have received a disease spray. There’s a lot of barley out there this year, but like many cereals, it doesn’t love excess water, so expectations aren’t massive in the wetter spots.
Oilseeds:
• Canola: Full flower to one or two cabbage stages on earlier fields; later-seeded crops are just bolting. Cabbage seedpod weevil is present, but numbers are dropping in many fields as more crops advance into flower.
• Flax: Flowering and looking better than earlier in the season.
• Canary seed: Also looking improved.
Pulses:
Peas and lentils really hate standing water—damage is already done in the low spots, and those areas will produce nothing. Keep an eye out for aphids in the surviving stands.
Forage & Livestock:
First-cut hay is underway and looks good compared to last year. Most fields probably won’t need a second cut. With drier conditions now, the second cut (where it happens) won’t be that strong. Pastures are holding up well for the time being.
Overall Thoughts:
The heat has helped, but the earlier excess moisture left its mark, especially on pulses and water-sensitive cereals. Crops jumped with the warmer weather, but variability remains high. I’m sick of living in the sprayer—what are others seeing in your areas? How are your later-seeded fields progressing, and any updates on weevil pressure, disease, or hay?
Comment