Local farmers have been dealing with a couple of pests that have been causing crop damage over the past couple of weeks. 

According to Agriculture Saskatchewan, producers have reported grasshoppers and gophers are causing issues. 

Producers are busy spraying for grasshoppers. However, options are limited when it comes to controlling gophers. 

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency of Health Canada ended the use of strychnine as of March 9. Farmers are using baiting traps with other legal chemicals, but it has become a numbers game. 

“Sometimes there's so many of them, it's just not economical to try to go out there every single day,” said Crops Extension Specialist Matthew Struthers.  “So, it's very tough to see and, unfortunately, we just need to see the weather change and see a decrease in that population to also see a decrease in the amount of damage they're causing.” 

Gophers tend to chew up crops and their burrowing holes can cause damage to equipment. 

Otherwise, with seeding now finished, crops have been progressing nicely in the Moose Jaw area. 

The area received some localized rainfall that has helped the moisture levels with just a few pockets that are experiencing dry conditions. 

“West of town, southwest of town, and as you get closer to Gravelbourg the crop is looking a bit more dry. but certainly, right around the Moose Jaw area, there are some good-looking crops,” Struthers said. 

Struthers added that producers could use some rain over the next couple of weeks as long as the hail stays away. 

Provincially, topsoil moisture ratings for croplands are one per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. 

Source - https://discovermoosejaw.com