Last week in the field Sask crop report for Aug. 1-7

Producers in the northwest, which includes Lloydminster, are starting their harvest operations with less than one per cent of this year’s crop harvested.

Producers are watching the maturity and moisture levels of their crops closely to determine when they can start combining.

Producers are focusing on their lentil and field pea crops to begin harvest. Lentils are now eight per cent harvested for the year and four per cent of field peas are harvested.

Other crops are between zero and one per cent harvested for the year and are still maturing.

Producers are wrapping up their haying operations this week.

Hay yields in the northwest are estimated at 1.0 tons per acre for brome/alfalfa and other tame hay, while alfalfa and wild hay are estimated at 1.1 tons per acre.

Greenfeed is estimated at 1.8 tons per acre, and silage is estimated to yield 6.3 tons per acre.

Some rain showers moved through the northwest this past week and producers that did receive rain are grateful. The North Battleford area received the most with 22 mm being recorded.

Some producers also reported hail

FROM PAGE 15

“We absolutely have lots of good sponsors, which vary year to year,” said Volz, adding Lakeland College has been a very steady supporter of their association.

“Any kids’ sport, it’s easy to get sponsorship it seems. The prizes we gave out were just amazing; every kid went home with a prize even if they didn’t place or whatever, we make sure they still get a qualifier award.”

Volz and her husband and children have been involved with the Little Cowpokes Rodeos for about six years, and she said it’s been a great experience for her kids.

“I think the main thing is the camaraderie and the friendship storms, while others only reported trace amounts of rain this past week. The scattered rain did not help soil moisture and moisture levels decreased this past week. between them. They cheer each other on,” said Volz.

Currently, 16 per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 45 per cent is short and 43 per cent is very short. Fifteen per cent of hay and pastureland has adequate topsoil moisture, 55 per cent is short and 30 per cent is very short.

Crop damage this past week is due to heat and drought stress and minor reports of hail.

Producers are busy preparing for harvest and getting their combines into the fields. They are also working cattle and preparing for fall operations.

“Most of them are entered into three to up to five or six events. So they can have a great barrel run and then a crappy pole run, you know like highs and lows but they try to just take the positives from it and move forward onto the next event.”

She said the rodeos also teach important life skills such as responsibility and time management.

“They don’t have very long between each event, so they have to be prepared, have their horse ready…they’re a cool bunch of kids, rodeo kids because they are definitely in charge of a lot of things,” said Volz.

“They have to look after their horses and their animals, and you know the kids who bring the steers or the goats … there’s different levels to it as well. Lots of responsibility, yeah.”

The Little Cowpokes are always looking for new participants, of any skill level to join their group.

“We are absolutely open to any kids, all levels are welcome and we just want to see each child grow. It’s not necessarily competitive amongst each other, it’s like how much you can grow with you and your horse throughout the season too,” said Volz.

“That would be our goal is to just make sure that we’re welcoming and inclusive—for sure.”