Seeding in Saskatchewan is nearly one-third of the way done.
The Provincial crop report released Thursday morning notes seeding province-wide is 32 per cent complete, up from 12 per cent last week. However, it is behind the 5-year average of 54 per cent and the 10-year average of 45 per cent.
Farmers in the southwest region continue to lead the way at 45 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 36 per cent, northwest 33 percent, northeast 26 per cent, west-central 23 per cent, and east-central 22 per cent.
The report indicates some early-seeded crops are beginning to emerge while producers continue to put seed in the ground. Many farmers are also applying pre-seed herbicide products “as the recent rainfall and heat has allowed weeds to emerge ahead of seeding.” Livestock producers are also taking cattle out to pasture and branding has started.
Crop reporters were able to record which crop has been seeded so far. Pulse crops are the most advanced with field peas at 53 per cent seeded, lentils 50 per cent, and chickpeas at 39 per cent.
Durum is ahead of other cereal crops at 38 per cent seeded, spring wheat 36 per cent, barley 30 per cent, oats 22 per cent, canary seed at 19 per cent, and triticale at 18 per cent.
Mustard leads all oilseed crops in the province at 24 per cent planted, followed by canola at 17 per cent, flax at 12 per cent, and soybeans at just eight per cent.
Rainfall was again widespread but varied greatly with many areas getting smaller amounts. The Richmound area received the most rain at 59 mm, while the Avonlea and Leader areas recorded 48 mm, the Marengo area 39 mm, the Wadena area 31 mm, and the Speers area received 26 mm.
The rain also helped with topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at four per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate, nine per cent short, and one per cent very short. Moisture for hayland is two per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short, and two per cent very short. Conditions for pasture land are at two per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short, and two per cent very short.
A region-by-region breakdown is below:
Southeast
Producers were able to get back seeding this week and are reporting good seeding conditions within the region. Currently, seeding progress is reported at 36 per cent. This is behind the five-year regional average of 48 per cent.;
Lentils and field peas are the furthest along in seeding at 64 per cent and 63 per cent respectively. Triticale and durum are the next furthest along at 50 per cent and 49 per cent respectively. Spring wheat is 40 per cent, oats are 38 per cent, barley is 36 per cent and canary seed is at 22 per cent completion. Chickpeas and soybeans are reported at 36 per cent and 28 per cent respectively. Oilseed seeding progress is further behind at 20 per cent for canola, 18 per cent for flax and seven per cent for mustard. Perennial forage is reported at 20 per cent seeding completion in the region.
Rainfall amounts were variable throughout the region this past week. The highest rainfall recorded was in the Avonlea and Carnduff areas at 48 mm and 41 mm respectively. The Stoughton area reported 30 mm. The Grenfell and Lipton areas received 14 mm and 10 mm respectively.
Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at three per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short. Hayland and pasture topsoil moisture are both reported at 82 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and one per cent very short for the past week.
Producers are busy with seeding, pre-seed herbicide spraying, land rolling pulse fields and rock picking. Cattle are being moved out to pasture that is starting to green up from the recent rainfall.
Southwest
Producers are back seeding through the region with the majority indicating good seeding conditions. Crops seeded earlier are showing good emergence with the recent moisture. The seeding progress is currently at 45 per cent complete. This is behind the five-year regional average of 69 per cent.
Pulse crops are the furthest advanced in the region with lentils at 49 per cent complete, field peas at 48 per cent and chickpeas at 44 per cent. Durum follows close behind at 42 per cent, barley 39 per cent, spring wheat 36 per cent, oats 35 per cent, triticale 24 per cent, and canary seed at 18 per cent. For oilseed crops, canola is reported at 36 per cent complete, mustard 30 per cent and flax nine per cent. Thirty-two per cent of the perennial forage has been seeded within the region.
Rainfall fell throughout much of the region over the past week with the highest rainfall recorded in the Richmound area of 59 mm. The Maple Creek and Hazenmore areas reported 44 mm and 37 mm respectively. The Eyebrow area received 15 mm and the Gull Lake area received 14 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions have improved within the region with the recent rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at six per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate, five per cent short and two per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is estimated at five per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short and three per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are eight per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 10 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Producers are continuing to seed, spray pre-seed herbicide, and land roll. Cattle are being moved out to pastures and some brandings are taking place.
East-Central
Wetter conditions and cooler temperatures throughout much of the region have delayed seeding progress. The current reported seeding progress is 22 per cent. This is behind the regional five-year average of 39 per cent.
Field peas and lentils are the furthest along in seeding completion with 46 per cent and 44 per cent respectively. Durum is 36 per cent complete, spring wheat 25 per cent, barley 29 per cent and oats seven per cent. Seeding progress for canola is nine per cent, soybeans eight per cent, perennial forage four per cent and flax one per cent.
Rainfall was variable within the region over the past week. The highest rainfall amount recorded was in the Wadena area with 31 mm. Of the areas within the region that received rainfall, the Foam Lake, Goodeve and Kenaston areas received the most at 23 mm, 21 mm and 20 mm respectively.
Topsoil moisture conditions within the region are reported as adequate. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at 12 per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate and seven per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is one per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and one per cent very short. Similarly, pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at one per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Producers are continuing to seed within the region when conditions allow along with spraying, harrowing, and rock picking. Some cattle are being moved out to pasture, while some producers are continuing to feed their cattle to allow pastures a chance to grow.
West-Central
Rain fell throughout much of the west-central region causing seeding delays in many areas. Currently, the seeding progress is reported at 23 per cent. This is behind the five-year regional average of 64 per cent.
Field peas and lentils are the furthest ahead in seeding progress at 41 per cent and 40 per cent respectively. Spring wheat is reported at 28 per cent complete. Durum and barley are both reported at 11 per cent complete, canary seed is at eight per cent and oats are at two per cent. Canola and mustard are reported at 12 per cent and 6 per cent complete respectively. Thirteen per cent of perennial forages have been seeded in the region.
Rainfall was widespread within the region. The highest rainfall reported was in the Marengo area at 39 mm followed by the Macklin area at 38 mm. The Dinsmore area reported 19 mm and the Sonningdale area reported 13 mm. The least amount of rainfall fell in the Unity area that reported 2 mm for the past week.
Topsoil moisture conditions have improved within the region compared to previous reports this spring. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at one per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 15 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at 70 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and five per cent very short. Similarly, pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at 70 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and six per cent very short.
Producers are continuing to seed when the weather allows along with spraying, land rolling and rock picking. With calving nearly complete, cattle are being moved out to pasture that is starting to green up with the recent moisture.
Northeast
Producers were able to make good seeding progress this week with limited moisture delays. The current reported seeding progress is 26 per cent. This is behind the five-year average for the region of 39 per cent.
Field peas are the furthest advanced in the region for seeding progress at 65 per cent. Spring wheat is 46 per cent seeded, followed by barley at 32 per cent and oats at 30 per cent. Canola is nine per cent seeded in the region. Perennial forage, canary seed and flax are at seven per cent, six per cent and two per cent completion respectively.
Rainfall amounts were lower in the region this past week. The highest rainfall amount was reported in the Kinistino area with 16 mm. The Birch Hills area and Tisdale area received 14 mm and 12 mm respectively. Many other areas within the region received limited precipitation this week.
Overall, topsoil moisture conditions are looking good within the region with many producers reporting great moisture conditions for seeding. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at one per cent surplus, 94 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at 82 per cent adequate and 17 per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture is estimated at 81 per cent adequate and 19 per cent short.
Producers in the region report that some winter wheat will need to be re-seeded due to winter kill from lack of snow cover. In addition to seeding, producers are busy pre-seed and pre-emergent herbicide spraying along with land rolling, harrowing and rock picking.
Northwest
Producers in the northwest have made great seeding progress this week. Currently the region sits at 33 per cent seeded. This falls below the five-year average of 55 per cent.
Field peas are the furthest ahead in seeding completion with the region at 74 per cent. Spring wheat is estimated to be 58 per cent seeded followed by barley and flax that are both at 23 per cent seeded. Canola is reported at 19 per cent seeded and oats are reported at 18 per cent seeded.
Rain fell within the region, but producers are hopeful for more in the coming weeks to help support crop development in many areas. The highest rainfall amount was reported in the Maidstone area at 40 mm. The Speers area reported 26 mm. The Radisson and Mayfair areas received 16 mm and five mm respectively. A few areas reported trace rainfall amounts for the past week.
Cropland topsoil moisture within the region is reported at one per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture conditions are reported at 69 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and two per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is estimated to be 67 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Producers are busy seeding and spraying within the region. Some cattle are being moved out to pasture while some producers are continuing to feed their animals to allow pastures to green up.