Seeding is way ahead of schedule in Saskatchewan and rain this past week kept topsoil moisture at adequate levels sum up Thursday’s provincial crop report.
Progress is currently 72%, an increase of 23% from last week’s crop report and ahead of the five-year average of 60% and the ten-year average of 64% for this time of year.
Farmers in the southwest are in the home stretch at 89% complete, followed by the northwest and west-central regions at 81%, the northeast at 74%, the southeast at 63%, and the east-central region at 58%.
The report suggests most of the pulse and spring cereal crops are seeded while oilseed crops are the last ones to be planted. Field peas are 92% seeded, lentils are 90% seeded and chickpeas 83% seeded. Triticale and durum lead cereal seeding progress at 87%, followed by spring wheat at 80%. barley at 71%. Canary seed at 56%, and oats at 55% seeded. Mustard leads in progress for oilseeds at 84%, followed by canola at 58% and flax at 50%. Seeding of soybeans and perennial forage remains behind everything else as 31% of these crops have been seeded.
“I’m hearing there’s good emergence of these crops throughout most of the province which is definitely a good sign.” said Tyce Masich, Crops Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture of seeded pulse and spring cereal crops.
Masich says dry weather helped producers get more seeding done before the rain.
“Producers are either half-done or they’re looking to wrap up here in the next week to ten days,” he added.
The majority of the rainfall was in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan, although Masich noted rainfall was also recorded in the southwest and scattered rain in the west-central and east-central regions, but not much in the northeast and northwest regions. The Lampman area in the southeast had the most rainfall at 139 millimeters, followed by the Oxbow area of 104 mm, Frobisher area had 100 mm, and the Carnduff area at 93 mm.
Last week’s rain helped maintain adequate topsoil moisture for cropland, hayland, and pastureland. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 6% surplus, 69% adequate, 22% short and 3% very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is rated as 3% surplus, 64% adequate, 27% short and 6% very short. Topsoil moisture levels in pastures are rated as 2% surplus, 60% adequate, 31% short and 7% very short.
While seeding remains the primary focus of grain farmers, they are also picking rocks, spraying, and land rolling. Livestock producers continue to prepare to send cattle out to pasture.
Farmers are reminded to be aware of power lines and other hazards while operating large equipment and drivers are reminded to take extra precautions when passing farm equipment on the road.
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