SASKATCHEWAN CROP REPORT — Large amounts of rainfall are generally improving topsoil moisture and pasture conditions in the province, while also delaying seeding, particularly in the eastern half of the province.
According to the weekly crop report issued by Saskatchewan Agriculture, producers who have been able to get in the field are making good progress, with 33 per cent of the 2022 crop now in the ground. As this is behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 53 per cent, producers are hoping for some warm days to allow field work to advance.
Sixty per cent of the crop has been seeded in the southwest region, 53 per cent in the west central, 35 per cent in the northwest, 17 per cent in the southeast, 13 per cent in the east central and eight per cent in the northeast. Fifty-nine per cent of lentils, 57 per cent of field peas, 51 per cent of durum, 29 per cent of spring wheat and 27 per cent of barley have been seeded to date. Barley, peas and lentils have begun sprouting throughout the southwest and west central regions.
A significant weather system moved across the province in the latter half of the week, bringing lots of rainfall in some areas. The Estevan area reported more than 120 mm over two days, the Weyburn area 92 mm, the Big Beaver area 87 mm, the Moosomin area 75 mm and the Eyebrow area 35 mm. Many parts of the southwest, west central and northwest did not receive significant amounts rainfall and rain would be appreciated once seeding concludes.
With almost weekly rainfall events, topsoil moisture conditions continue to improve for the province. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Pasturelands that have received moisture all spring are beginning to see good recovery from the 2021 drought and their carrying capacity of cattle is increasing.
Southeastern Saskatchewan
Rainy conditions prevented producers from getting into their fields this past week. Currently, 17 per cent of the crop is now in the ground, this is well behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 60 per cent for this time of year.
Within the region 27 per cent of the durum acres, 26 per cent of the field peas, 21 per cent of the lentil, 13 per cent of the barley and 10 per cent of the spring wheat is now in the ground.
There was a large amount of rain that was received across the region with areas like Estevan receiving 120 mm. The Weyburn area received 92 mm, the Moosomin and Wilcox areas 75 mm, the Indian Head area 62 mm and the Marquis area 29 mm. This precipitation continues to delay producers from seeding, but it will greatly benefit pasture and hay lands in the region. Areas that saw significant amounts of rain over a short period of time experienced small amounts of flooding.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 15 per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and eleven per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 81 per cent adequate, eleven per cent short and eight per cent very short. Pastures have received the moisture needed for growth. Now, they just need warm, sunny days to allow for rapid regrowth to occur.
Producers are patiently waiting for their fields to dry out and resume seeding, some producers are harrowing their fields to attempt to dry them out faster. Producers who only received light showers have been busy in their fields.
Southwestern Saskatchewan
The southwest is on track for seeding progress. Currently, 60 per cent of the crop has been seeded in the region and that is in line with the five-year average (2017-2021) of 60 per cent. Producers have been able to progress quickly with seeding due to the region being quite dry and not receiving the amount large amounts of rain received by other parts of the province. Across the region, 69 per cent of the field pea acres, 65 per cent of the lentil, 60 per cent of the canola, barley and durum and 50 per cent of the spring wheat have been seeded to date.
The southwest finally received some large amounts of rain and producers were happy to delay a day or two due to the moisture. The Big Beaver area received 87 mm, the Mossbank area 65 mm, the Limerick area 46 mm, the Webb and Gouldtown areas 31 mm and the Admiral area eight mm. This rain will benefit any emerging crops and improve the
quality of germination across the region.
More rain would be welcome in the region to support crop development and help green up pastures. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 20 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 33 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 31 per cent very short.
East-Central Saskatchewan
Producers were able to make minimal seeding progress this past week due to blanket rainfall across the region. The region currently has 13 per cent of the 2022 crop in the ground, this is well behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 34 per cent.
Fifty-three per cent of the lentil acres, 44 per cent of the durum, 41 per cent of the field peas, 15 per cent of the spring wheat and seven per cent of the canola has been seeded to date.
The region received very high amounts of precipitation this past week from which has stalled any further seeding progress for the time being. The Melville area received 86 mm, the Foam Lake and Wynyard areas 80 mm, the Jedburgh area 50 mm and the Earl Grey and Bulyea areas 42 mm. Fields are extremely wet and there is a lot of water sitting in low laying areas.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 24 per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, two per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eleven per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, eleven per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pastures have been very slow to green up this week with the cool rainy weather.
West-Central Saskatchewan
Producers made great progress seeding this week, even with some minor delays due to rainfall events. Fifty-three per cent of the crop is in the ground, ahead of the five-year average (2017-2021) of 42 per cent for this time of year. Dry conditions and lack of rain have allowed producers to complete their seeding operations much faster than normal. Now, many producers are waiting for rain so their crops will germinate and establish evenly.
Eighty-four per cent of the field pea acres, 68 per cent of lentil, 51 per cent of spring wheat, 49 per cent of durum, 42 per cent of canola and 40 per cent of oats have been seeded so far across the region.
Rain was finally received in the region and producers were happy to see some much-needed moisture fall on their fields. The Eyebrow area received 35 mm, the Hanley area 23 mm, the Outlook area 17 mm the Kindersley area 15 mm and the Marengo area four mm. Wind also swept across the region and halted spraying operations and dried out topsoil where no rain was received.
Moisture is very sparse in the region and more general rain showers are needed to improve conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 27 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and 36 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 32 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 38 per cent very short.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Very little seeding has been carried out in the region due to previous weeks of cool, rainy weather creating unfavourable field conditions. Currently, only seven per cent of the crop has been seeded in the region this is significantly behind the five-average (2017-2021) of 29 per cent of this time of year. Producers have all their equipment ready and will be working in their fields once conditions improve.
Twenty-one per cent of field pea acres, 15 per cent of barley, four per cent oats and nine per cent of the spring wheat has been seeded in the region.
Heavy rainfall throughout the region has low laying areas saturated with water and some fields experienced run off into dugouts, sloughs and creeks. The Hudson Bay and Porcupine Plaine areas received 60 mm, the Tisdale area 45 mm, the Bruno area 27 mm and the Arborfield and Nipawin areas 16 mm.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 34 per cent surplus and 66 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and two per cent short.
Northwestern Saskatchewan
Producers in the region have been taking advantage of the absence of rain and seeding progress is now at 35 per cent which is right on par with the five-year average (2017-2021). Some areas are very dry, to the point where producers are worried about field fires. Within the region 70 per cent of the field pea acres, 51 per cent of the spring wheat, 30 per cent of the oats and 27 per cent of the barley have now been seeded.
The region did not receive much rain over the past week, but those who did receive rain were delayed briefly. The Duck Lake area received 16 mm, the Hafford area 10 mm and the Spiritwood and Frenchman Butte area received seven mm.
Pastures have not greened up very fast in the region and some warm weather is desperately needed to give cattle enough new growth to graze on. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 42 per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and five per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 37 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 21 per cent very short.
