Spring planting is off to quick start in Saskatchewan, with almost 20% of the 2025 crop in the ground already.
The first weekly crop report of the season on Thursday pegged provincewide planting at 18% complete as of Monday. That’s 8 points ahead of the five-year average and 6 points better than the 10-year average. Last year, planting was 12% done at this time.
“Despite multiple storms throughout the province in April, producers were able to get into their fields and make rapid progress over the last couple of weeks,” the report said.
Limited moisture fell throughout much of the province over the last week. The highest reported rainfall was in the Alida area at 16 millimetres (mm) followed by the Lafleche area at 12 mm.
Planting progress is the most advanced in the southwest region, where 43% of the crop was in as of Monday and the first seeded crops starting to emerge. The northwest and southeast regions are also making good progress, at 15% and 14% done, respectively. The west-central region was 11% done, followed by the east-central and northeast regions at 9% complete.
Pulse crops are leading in seeding completion, with lentils at 34% seeded, field peas at 31% and chickpeas at 28% as of Monday. Durum was 33% seeded, barley at 19%, and spring wheat at 13%. Oats and canary seed were both reported at 4% complete. Mustard leads amongst oilseed crops for seeding completion at 21%, followed by canola at 10% and flax at 6%. Perennial forage is reported at 5% seeded, and there are no reports of soybean seeding completion currently.
Although provincial topsoil moisture conditions are mainly at adequate levels, there are some areas in the province experiencing drier conditions. Topsoil moisture for cropland was rated at 3% surplus, 78% adequate, 16% short and 3% very short as of Monday. That compares to 8% surplus, 79% adequate, 12% short and 1% very short a year earlier.
Livestock producers are hopeful for moisture in the coming weeks to help support water supplies and pasture conditions throughout the season, the report added.
Southeast:
Despite April storms that brought larger amounts of moisture to some areas within the region, the southeast was able to make good progress and is currently reporting 14 per cent of seeding complete. This is ahead of the five-year average (2020-2024) of nine per cent for the region.
Of the crops seeded, chickpeas are the furthest along at 34 per cent seeding completion, closely followed by durum at 33 per cent. Field peas and lentils have reached 22 per cent and 17 per cent seeding completion respectively. Oats are reported at 13 per cent complete, spring wheat at 11 per cent and barley at 7 per cent. Mustard currently sits at five per cent complete, followed by canola at four per cent.
Rainfall was scattered across the region over the last week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Alida area at 16 mm, followed by the Glenavon area at 10 mm and the Avonlea area at 9 mm. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture within the region is rated as six per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and eight per cent short.
Southwest:
The weather over the last couple weeks has supported rapid seeding progress within the region. The southwest region is currently reporting 43 per cent seeding completion with some of the early seeded crops starting to emerge. This is ahead of the five-year average (2020-2024) of 20 per cent for the region.
Of the crops seeded, triticale is the furthest along in seeding progress at 60 per cent, followed by barley at 52 per cent, field peas at 56 per cent and lentils at 45 per cent. Durum currently sits at 44 per cent complete, chickpeas at 39 per cent, spring wheat at 32 per cent and oats at 13 per cent. Of the oilseed crops, mustard is the furthest ahead in seeding progress at 33 per cent, followed by canola at 30 per cent and flax at 17 per cent. Perennial forage currently sits at 12 per cent completion.
Rainfall was variable throughout the region with the Lafleche area receiving the highest amount at 12 mm. The Aneroid, Limerick, Mossbank and Moose Jaw areas all received 10 mm over the past week. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 76 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and five per cent very short.
East-Central:
Producers are making good progress with seeding within the east-central region. Currently seeding is reported at nine per cent complete. This is ahead of the five-year average (2020-2024) of three per cent for the region.
Of the crops seeded, lentils and field peas are the furthest along at 20 per cent and 17 per cent respectively. Barley is reported at 13 per cent seeded, followed by spring wheat at nine per cent, canola at five per cent, durum at four per cent and oats at two per cent. Perennial forage currently sits at four per cent seeding completion.
Rainfall was limited within the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Punnichy area, which reported eight mm, followed by the Wroxton area at seven mm. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and 16 per cent short.
West-Central:
The weather is supporting consistent seeding progress across the west-central region. Currently seeding is reported at 11 per cent complete. This falls in line with the five-year average (2020-2024) of 11 per cent for the region.
Of the crops seeded, field peas and lentils are the furthest along at 26 per cent and 21 per cent respectively. Durum follows close behind at 17 per cent seeded. Canola currently sits at 11 per cent seeded within the region, followed by spring wheat at nine per cent and canary seed at eight per cent. Barley is reported at three per cent seeded and both mustard and soybeans are reported at one per cent. Perennial forage currently sits at four per cent seeding completion.
Trace amounts of rainfall fell within the region over the past week with the majority of areas receiving no rainfall. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Northeast:
Seeding is progressing within the region, with some producers anticipating getting into their fields over the next couple of days. The northeast region is currently reporting nine per cent completed seeding. This is ahead of the five-year average (2020-2024) of three per cent for the region.
Of the crops seeded, lentils and field peas are the furthest along at 19 per cent and 15 per cent respectively. Spring wheat follows close behind at nine per cent seeded. Oats currently sit at five per cent seeded within the region, followed by both barley and canola at four per cent seeding completion. Perennial forage currently sits at two per cent and canary seed at one per cent seeded.
Rainfall was limited throughout much of the region over the past week. The highest rainfall reported was 3 mm in the Smeaton area followed by the Bruno and Rosthern areas at 2 mm. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Northwest:
Producers are making good progress with seeding within the northwest region. Currently seeding is reported at 15 per cent complete. This is ahead of the five-year average (2020-2024) of seven per cent for the region.
Field peas and spring wheat are both reported at 27 per cent seeded. Lentils are 14 per cent seeded, followed by canola at 10 per cent and barley at eight per cent. Oats currently sit at three per cent seeding completion.
Trace amounts of rainfall fell within the region over the past week, with the majority of areas receiving no rainfall. The highest amount of rainfall recorded was in the Livelong and Canwood areas, which both reported only two mm over the past week. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.
