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CTV News
a day ago
- Climate
- CTV News
Saskatchewan farmers will need more rain soon to avoid deteriorating crops: report
Saskatchewan farmers are moving into the next phase of crop production after finishing getting their seeds in the ground last week. Now, according to the Ministry of Agriculture's latest crop report Thursday, producers across the province begin spraying their fields to keep the pests at bay and hauling grain to free up storage space for harvest. So far so good, but whether those seedlings thrive or begin to deteriorate in condition all depends on one key factor — rain. 'There were some isolated showers over the past week, with some areas seeing heavy rain and hail,' the ministry said in a news release. 'While the moisture was welcome, the intensity of these storms left some crops damaged.' The ministry says the Meadow Lake area had the heaviest reported rainfall over the week, at 64 millimetres. The Coleville, Bruno and Prince Albert areas also reported substantial rainfall. Much of the province received small, spotty rains, the ministry says, contributing to a province-wide decline in topsoil moisture conditions. Forty-five per cent of Saskatchewan's cropland has topsoil rated as short of moisture, and 14 per cent is rated very short. Just one per cent of cropland has a surplus of moisture, the province says, and 40 per cent is rated adequate. In the hay lands, 34 per cent of top soil moisture is rated adequate, 41 per cent short, and 25 per cent very short. Just 27 per cent of pasture lands are rated at adequate moisture levels, with 42 per cent short and 31 per cent very short. Most crops appear to be normal in their development for this time of year, the ministry says. 'However, many producers are reporting that without rain soon crop development will be delayed on later seeded crops and hastened for the more advanced crops as they respond to the drier conditions.' Mainly, the ministry says crop conditions across the province are rated as fair to good, but that could change if more rain doesn't come soon. 'Dry conditions coupled with windy days continues to be the largest source of crop damage and severity ranges from minor to moderate depending on the region.' Scattered hail events this week contributed to some crop damage, also varying widely in severity. The ministry says fall seeded crops in later development stages sustained the most damage and are unlikely to recover, 'but less advanced crops should be able to bounce back.' The ministry says producers are reporting issues with grasshoppers and flea beetles, but those concerns range from minor to moderate and are being dealt with. Read the full report online here.
Mail & Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Index shows upbeat sentiment on South Africa's agricultural sector
Favourable production conditions for crops, wine grapes, fruit and vegetables will drive the sector's performance. South African farmers and agribusinesses continue to exhibit resilience and optimism. The After a notable uptick in the first quarter of 2025, the ACI fell by 5 points in the second quarter of the year to 65. Any level of the ACI that is above the 50-neutral point signals optimism. Regarding the slight decline, most respondents identified the uncertain global trade environment, lingering geopolitical tension and the domestic animal disease challenge as key factors constraining the sector. Despite the slight quarterly decline, the This survey was conducted in the second week of June, covering various agribusinesses operating in all agricultural subsectors across South Africa. A crucial point to remember when reviewing the index is that sustained optimism, at levels above the 50-neutral market, is fundamental, especially in the long run, for fixed investment in the agriculture and agribusiness sectors. The ACI also serves as a leading indicator of agricultural growth prospects over time. We can thus expect slightly better farming output data for the second quarter of the year. The favourable production conditions for field crops, wine grapes and various fruits and vegetables will be the primary drivers of the sector's performance. Indeed, we are yet to see the full impact of the foot-and-mouth disease that is challenging the sector. This has started to affect sentiment and is likely to continue in the coming months. In essence, the ACI results for the second quarter of 2025 indicate that the sector's mood remains upbeat about the recovery this year. Still, the results also show that recovery will probably be uneven as some key subsectors struggle with animal diseases. Notably, the dominance of geopolitical concerns in respondents' views illustrates the strong dependence of South Africa's agricultural sector on export markets and the need to diversify these markets. China, India, Saudi Arabia and Egypt are among the key markets we should target for expansion. However, as we drive diversification, we must work vigorously to retain access in various markets across the European Union, United Kingdom, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas, among others. Also significant are the collaborative efforts between business and government in addressing biosecurity issues in South Africa's agriculture, as well as efforts to promote more efficient network industries, better municipal management and the implementation of the Wandile Sihlobo is the chief economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa.
The Guardian
10-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Warwickshire v Surrey, Nottinghamshire v Hampshire, and more: county cricket
Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature A meeting of the National Drought Group is never a good sign… Drought conditions already hitting UK crop production, farmers say Share There was a to-and-fro scrap at Trent Bridge, the difference being Nottinghamshire's 20-year-old England Lion Freddie McCann, who hit a wonderful century, already his third in the Championship. Kyle Abbott collected five wickets for the 43rd time in his career – it could have been more but Hampshire dropped five catches. The 2024 champions had a difficult day at Edgbaston. Tom Latham, who only arrived in Birmingham on Tuesday after recovering from a broken hand, frolicked to an unbeaten 139 on his Warwickshire debut. Alex Davies had set the mood, playing wantonly at the Surrey attack, slapping a couple of early sixes, until he was bowled by a full toss from Dan Lawrence. Surrey, shorn of Jamie Smith and Ollie Pope by England, picked Jason Roy for the first time in five years. It was a memorable day for off-spinner Jack Carson, who celebrated a maiden first-class century at a sunny Hove. It was an intelligent rescue act after Sussex, sitting pretty at 80 for nought, promptly lost six for eight as Tom Taylor (five for 56) ran riot. The last-wicket stand of 73 was particularly galling for Worcestershire. James Wharton's careful innings of 63 not out just about knitted Yorkshire together on a day when they lost nine for 108 on a two-faced Chelmsford pitch. Matt Critchley collected four for 49. Essex then lost their opening pair and the nightwatchman before the close. Glamorgan, boosted by news that Marnus Labuschagne would be returning for two games (and a sixth season) later this month, had a good day against Kent at Canterbury, where a north wind confused the seasons. Young specs-wearing Asa Tribe was bowled by Matt Parkinson six runs short of a first Championship century, Ben Kellaway was unbeaten on 91. A ding-dong unrolled at the County Ground, where Northamptonshire were reduced to 67 for six before the last four batters added 171 – much to Lancashire's frustration. Lewis McManus cooked up a half century and was well supported by Liam Guthrie and the tail. Lancashire lost both George Bell and Josh Bohannon for nought, but yet another fifty from Marcus Harris smoothed the waters. Ben Kellaway on the attack for Glamorgan at Canterbury. Photograph: Paul Dennis/TGS Photo/Shutterstock Share DIVISION ONE Chelmsford: Essex 27-3 v Yorkshire 216 Trent Bridge: Notts 333 v Hampshire 2-0 Hove: Sussex 284 v Worcestershire 7-0 Edgbaston: Warwickshire 364-4 v Surrey DIVISION TWO Canterbury: Kent v Glamorgan 389-7 County Ground: Northamptonshire 238 v Lancashire 110-3 Share Hello! And a happy Saturday morning all round. It's another fine day around the grounds and play will start at 11am, so do join us post park run/croissant/child's football game for some county cricket perambulations. Share
