Despite rain delays in some areas, overall Saskatchewan seeding still managed to progress well this past week
Thursday’s crop report estimated seeding across the province at 72% complete as of Monday, up 23 points from a week earlier and well ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 60% and 64%. Last year at this time, only 12% of the crop was seeded.
Fieldwork was bogged down by heavy rain in the southeastern corner of the province, where the highest recorded rainfall was in the Lampman area at 139 millimeters (mm). The Oxbow and Frobisher areas followed with 104 mm and 100 mm, respectively. The Carnduff area also received notable rainfall of 93 mm. But regardless of the abundant rainfall in certain areas, other parts of the province remain dry, and “producers there are hoping for rainfall soon,” the report said.
Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture was rated 6% surplus, 69% adequate, 22% short, and 3% very short as of Monday, versus 1% surplus, 61% adequate, 35% short and 3% very short a week earlier.
Producers in the province’s southwest region are nearing the seeding finish line, with 89% of the crops in the ground as of Monday. The southwest is closely followed by the northwest and west-central regions at 81% done, and northeast reached 74% complete. On the other hand, seeding in the southeast and east-central regions is behind the provincial average at 63% and 58% complete, respectively.
Most of the pulse crops in the province have been seeded. Field peas lead seeding progress by crop type at 92%, followed closely by lentils and chickpeas at 90% and 83%, respectively. Large portions of many spring cereal crops have also been seeded. Triticale and durum lead cereal seeding progress at 87%, followed by spring wheat at 80% and barley at 71%.
Canary seed and oat crops lag further behind other cereal crops with 56% and 55% of crops seeded, respectively. Seeding progress for all oilseed crops has now reached the halfway point. Mustard continues to lead seeding progress for oilseed crops at 84%, followed by canola at 58% and flax at 50%.
Seeding of soybean and perennial forage crops has made the least progress so far as 31% of those crops were seeded as of Monday.
Seeding remains the primary focus for most producers in the province, but many are also busy spraying, land rolling and picking rocks. Livestock producers are also working to move their animals to the pasture for the season, the report said.
Southeast:
Producers in certain parts of the southeast experienced rain delays, but the region overall made steady seeding progress. Seeding in the southeast is currently 63 per cent complete, which is slightly higher than the five-year average of 58 per cent.
Pulse crops have the highest percentage of acres seeded. Currently, 89 per cent of field peas, 87 per cent of lentils, and 81 per cent of chickpeas have been planted. Most spring cereal crops are also well over half seeded. Durum leads the way with 80 per cent acres planted, followed by spring wheat at 67 per cent, oats at 62 per cent, barley at 60 per cent, and canary seed at 57 per cent. Triticale is significantly lower with 21 per cent currently planted. Seeding of oilseed crops is approximately half done with 51 per cent of mustard, 47 per cent of flax, and 42 per cent of canola in the ground. Forty-five per cent of soybean crops have been planted. Finally, seeding of perennial forage crops is 21 per cent complete.
Most of the southeast received large amounts of precipitation this past week. The most rainfall recorded was 139 mm in the Lampman area, followed by the Oxbow area with 104 mm, and Frobisher area with 100 mm. The areas around Carnduff and Wapella also received significant rainfall with 93 mm and 87 mm, respectively.
Topsoil moisture levels are significantly higher in the southeast than the rest of the province due to the heavy rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated at 27 per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, and three per cent short.
Southwest:
The southwest leads the province in seeding progress, with many producers either done or nearly done. Seeding progress currently sits at 89 per cent, which is up 13 per cent from last week and above the 5-year average of 73 per cent.
Nearly all pulse crops in the southwest have been seeded as 97 per cent of field peas, 94 per cent of lentils, and 90 per cent of chickpeas have been planted. Most spring cereal crops are in as well, with seeding progress sitting at 97 per cent for triticale, 94 per cent for spring wheat and durum, 91 per cent for barley, 80 per cent for canary seed, and 78 per cent for oat crops. Seeding progress of oilseed crops is similar to pulses and cereals. Over 97 per cent of mustard acres and 91 per cent of canola acres have been seeded. Seeding for flax crops is 79 per cent complete. Soybeans are the final annual crop reported, and 92 per cent of these acres have been planted. While producers are busy seeding the few remaining annual crop acres, perennial forage crops have the lowest percentage of seeded acres at 62 per cent.
Some areas in the southwest got much needed rainfall as seeding wraps up. The area around Neidpath got the most rainfall with 43 mm, followed by Ponteix with 37 mm, and Mossbank with 34 mm. The Vanguard and Lafleche areas received similar rainfall with 33 mm falling in each area. Contrary to historical trends, the southwest currently has some of the highest soil moisture conditions in the province. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated one per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short, and three per cent very short.
East-Central:
Seeding is 58 per cent complete in east-central Saskatchewan, which is an increase of 25 per cent from last week. This is the lowest progress percentage in the province but remains well above the five-year average of 46 per cent for this region.
In terms of seeding progress by crop type, pulses lead the way with 94 per cent of lentils and 90 per cent of field peas planted. Chickpea seeding progress is significantly lower at a mere eight per cent. Seeding progress for spring cereals vary. Crops like durum, spring wheat and barley are making steady progress at 82 per cent, 71 per cent, and 56 per cent seeded, respectively. Progress for other spring cereal crops is noticeable lower with oats being 33 per cent, triticale being 25 per cent, and canary seed being 24 per cent seeded. Oilseed crops still have lots of acres left to seed. Currently, 40 per cent of canola and flax crops have been seeded, while mustard is slightly lower at 33 per cent. Seeding progress for soybeans is at 40 per cent, similar to oilseed crops. Finally, 27 per cent of perennial forage crops have been seeded in this region.
Some areas in the east-central received modest rainfall, while others had negligible precipitation. The Calder area reported 42 mm, the most in this region. The Stornoway and Whitebeech areas got the second-most rainfall with 30 mm. Recent rainfall improved topsoil moisture slightly this past week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short, and two per cent very short.
West-Central:
Producers in the west-central were busy this past week, as this region saw the largest increase in crops seeded. Seeding is 81 per cent complete, up 38 per cent from a week ago. This is also higher than the five-year average for seeding progress of 69 per cent.
Seeding of field pea and lentil crops is almost complete as progress is at 97 per cent and 96 per cent, respectively. Chickpeas seeding progress is at 61 per cent, which is notably lower than other pulses. Seeding of most spring cereal crops is over half done with progress at 100 per cent for triticale, 84 per cent for spring wheat, 73 per cent for durum, 71 per cent for canary seed, and 70 per cent for barley. Oats are 42 per cent seeded and the only cereal crop under the halfway point. Canola and mustard are both 75 per cent seeded, with flax trailing at 60 per cent. Seeding for perennial forage and soybean crops continues at a slower pace than other crops. As of this week, 30 per cent of perennial forages and a mere one per cent of soybeans have been seeded.
There was limited rainfall in the west-central this week except for a few areas. The Milden area got the most rainfall with 26 mm, followed by Kindersley with 15 mm. The areas around Rosetown, Arlee, Unity and Coleville all received 13 mm of rainfall. Topsoil moisture conditions remain largely acceptable. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short, and two per cent very short.
Northeast:
Nearly three-quarters of crops have been seeded in the northeast. Progress current sits at 74 percent, much higher than the five-year average of 47 per cent. Conditions have been dry this spring in the northeast, which has resulted in rapid seeding progress.
Essentially all field peas have been seeded as progress is at 99 per cent, and many lentil crops have been seeded with progress at 75 per cent. Most spring cereal crops have been planted, with 95 per cent of spring wheat, 81 per cent of oats, and 80 per cent of barley in the ground. Canary seed and durum are further behind other cereals as 65 per cent and 51 per cent have been seeded, respectively. Oilseed crops are over half done as seeding progress is at 65 per cent for canola and 52 per cent for flax. Seventeen per cent of soybeans and 21 per cent of perennial forages have been planted.
Rainfall has been scarce in the northeast this past week. The only places to receive notable rainfall were the Hudson Bay area with 13 mm and the Bruno and Kelvington areas with eight mm. With limited rainfall, topsoil moisture levels dropped from last week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 48 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short, and eight per cent very short.
Northwest:
Seeding is 81 per cent complete in the northwest, which is an increase of 32 per cent and higher than the five-year average of 68 per cent. Dry conditions in this region have been the main factor behind the rapid seeding progress.
All expected acres of field peas, lentils and canary seed have been planted. Most spring cereal crops have been planted as well, with 94 per cent of spring wheat, 83 per cent of barley, and 71 per cent of oats in the ground. The exception is triticale, which is only at 30 per cent complete. Approximately three-quarters of oilseed crops have been seeded, with progress at 77 per cent for flax and 68 per cent for canola.
Similar to the northeast, there has been limited rainfall in the northwest this spring. Only a few areas received noticeable rainfall, which was the Loon Lake area receiving 13 mm, followed by the Paradise Hill area receiving 11 mm. The Hafford and North Battleford areas both got 10 mm. Topsoil moisture levels in the northwest are some of the lowest in the province. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 47 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short, and 11 per cent very short.
