Saskatchewan farmers have seeded 74 percent of the provincial crop—according to the Saskatchewan Agriculture weekly crop report.

This is the seeding progress by region:

Southwest                 82 percent
Southeast                 79 percent
West Central           77 percent
Northwest                77 percent
East Central            63 percent
Northeast                 63 percent

There were few seeding delays until just before the Victoria Day long weekend. Southwest Saskatchewan received snow, while it was mainly rain in the southeast. Additional rain is in the forecast for Sunday and Monday over a wider portion of the province.

“It depends on the volume of rain that comes down, but every little bit helps” said Matt Struthers, provincial crops extension specialist. “The cool weather and some rain will relieve some of that heat and dry condition stress on the crops coming up.”

The moisture is badly needed. When the crop report data was compiled on Monday, May 17th, topsoil moisture conditions were very dry. The rating for cropland was 20 percent adequate, 48 percent short and 32 percent very short. Hay and pasture land was only 13 percent adequate, 36 percent short and 50 percent very short.

Some farmers decided to seed cereal crops and leave canola until the end, just in case there was additional moisture for the shallow-seeded oilseed.

Very little spraying is happening due to low weed emergence and strong winds making for poor conditions.

The region-by-region crop report is below:

SOUTHEAST

Earlier seeded crops have started to emerge in the region. Weeds are also emerging, but windy conditions this past week have prevented many producers from being able to apply herbicides. Minimal rainfall has allowed for seeding to progress but farm land will need moisture soon to support crop and pasture growth.
There were scattered light showers in some areas of the region this week. The Weyburn area received the highest amount of rain with around four mm. The Carnduff and Tantallon areas received three mm, the Radville and Frobisher areas two mm. These small amounts of rain fall will not be enough to change current moisture conditions.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, five per cent adequate, 65 per cent short and 30 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, three per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and 76 per cent very short.

Besides seeding, producers are busy rolling lentil fields and picking rocks while cattle producers are assessing their pastures to determine when they will be able to put cattle out.

SOUTHWEST

Eighty-two per cent of the crop is seeded in the southwest, which is ahead the five-year average (2016-2020) of 57 per cent for this time of year. For the region eighty-seven per cent of the chickpeas, 83 per cent of the field peas, 82 per cent of the durum, 81 per cent of the canola, 80 per cent of the barley, 76 per cent of the spring wheat and mustard and 68 per cent of the flax has been seeded to date.

Windy conditions have resulted in drying of the soil and have prevented many producers from being able to spray herbicides.

There was minimal precipitation in the southwest region this week, ranging from none to five mm in some areas around Consul and Gull Lake. The Shaunavon area received 3 mm of rain while the Bengough area received only one mm.

Much of the crop has been seeded and some are starting to emerge due to rainfall over the past couple of weeks. More rain would be welcome in the region to support crop development and help green up the pastures. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 26 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 27 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 20 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 44 per cent very short.

As seeding wraps up producers will be busy spraying, rolling fields, rock picking, and moving cattle.

WEST CENTRAL

Producers made great progress seeding this week. Currently, 77 per cent of seeding is done in the region which is ahead of the five-year average (2016-2020) of 37 per cent for this time of year.

Ninety-eight per cent of the field peas, 96 per cent of the lentils, 88 per cent of the canary seed, 81 per cent of the soybeans, 79 per cent of the durum, 77 per cent of the spring wheat, 75 per cent of the barley and 70 per cent of the canola has been seeded to date.

Windy conditions have continued to dry out the soil in the region and many fields require rainfall to support germination and crop development. No rainfall was reported in the region for the week.

Very hot temperatures and limited moisture have slowed hay land and pasture plant growth. With limited precipitation and strong winds topsoil moisture conditions have been worsening. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 14 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and 53 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 65 per cent very short.

Producers are busy seeding, rock picking, rolling pulse crops, branding cattle and moving them to pasture.

EAST CENTRAL

There was very little precipitation in the region and producers were able to make great seeding progress. Seeding is up from 22 per cent last week to 63 per cent of the crop seeded to date. This is well ahead the five-year average (2016-2020) for this time of year of 27 per cent.

Ninety-four per cent of the field peas, 86 per cent of the chickpeas, 77 per cent of the durum, 71 per cent of the spring wheat, 63 per cent of the barley and 51 per cent of the oats are seeded to date.

Most of the region received very little to no rainfall this week. The Pelly area received the highest amount of rain with only 10 mm. The Kelvington and Rose valley areas received four mm of rain and the Jedburgh and Esterhazy areas received one mm.

Hay land and pastures have been very slow to green up this week with the warmer temperatures. Rain would be welcome across the region, especially to help support pasture and hay growth. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 14 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 38 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as ten per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 58 per cent very short.

NORTHEAST

Fair weather has allowed producers to make great progress with seeding with 63 per cent of the 2021 crop in the ground, which is above the five-year average (2016-2020) for this time of year of 22 per cent.

Ninety-eight per cent of the field peas, 96 per cent of the spring wheat, 80 per cent of the canary seed, 77 per cent of the barley, 77 per cent of the oats, 62 per cent of the flax and 50 per cent of the canola has been seeded to date.

With the wildfire in the Prince Albert area and windy conditions, some crop reporters have noted large amounts of smoke in their areas. Windy conditions have also prevented some producers from spraying. There was a thunderstorm in the Tisdale area that resulted in 25 mm of rain in a localized area. The Christopher Lake area received 13 mm, the Lake Lenore area got five mm and the Kinistino area received four mm.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and ten per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.

Producers are spraying weeds that have emerged, rock picking, harrowing and tending to their cattle.

NORTHWEST

Producers in the northwest have made further progress with 77 per cent currently seeded. This is ahead of the five-year average (2016-2020) of 31 percent for this time of year. Within the region 95 per cent of the field peas, 85 per cent of the lentils, 84 per cent of the spring wheat, 75 per cent of the durum, 73 per cent of the barley and 73 per cent of the canola are seeded to date.

The region received very little precipitation in the form of scattered showers during the week. The North Battleford and Turtleford areas received the highest amount of precipitation in the region with around two mm. The Mayfair and Frenchmen Butte areas received one mm.

Warm temperatures and little rain over the past week have allowed the soil moisture conditions to deteriorate.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, six per cent adequate and 70 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, zero per cent adequate, 75 per cent short and 25 per cent very short.

Producers are busy seeding, harrowing and spaying weeds.