Saskatchewan crops entered June in considerably stronger shape than a year ago, with most major crops showing notable improvements in the share rated good to excellent.
As shown in Thursday’s provincial crop report, winter wheat led the improvement, with 85% of the crop rated good to excellent as of June 1, up sharply from 58% at the same point in 2025. Spring wheat also improved significantly, climbing to 90% good to excellent from 64% a year earlier, while durum was rated 90% good to excellent compared to 76% last year.
Coarse grains also posted gains. Oats improved to 88% good to excellent from 61% last year, while barley rose to 89%, compared to 67% in early June 2025. Flax conditions strengthened as well, with 87% of the crop rated in top categories versus 75% a year earlier.
Among oilseeds, canola showed one of the largest year-over-year improvements, with 89% of the crop rated good to excellent, well above last year’s 57%. Mustard also improved sharply to 92% from 67%. Soybeans were the exception among major crops, slipping to 76% good to excellent from 85% last year.
Pulse crops generally remain in strong shape. Lentils were rated 95% good to excellent, up from 79% a year earlier, while peas improved to 91% from 75%. Canary seed rose to 87% from 71%, and chickpeas climbed to 96%, compared to 86% at the same time last year.
Meanwhile, seeding progress accelerated sharply across Saskatchewan over the past week as producers took advantage of improved field conditions, with 80% of the provincial crop planted as of Monday, up from 52% the previous week. Despite the rapid pace, progress remains behind both the five-year average of 91%, the 10-year average of 92%, and well below last year when 97% of the crop was already seeded by this point.
The southwest region continues to lead the province at 91% complete, followed closely by west-central at 90%, southeast at 87%, and northwest at 86%. However, wet conditions and delayed field access continue to hamper progress in some areas, with the northeast only 67% seeded and east-central trailing at 63%.
Pulse crops remain furthest advanced, with field peas 96% complete and lentils at 94%, while durum seeding reached 90%. Among cereal crops, spring wheat was 85% planted, while barley reached 77%, oats 63%, canary seed 64%, and triticale 66%. Oilseed progress also improved considerably, with canola reaching 73%, flax 71%, and mustard 69% complete. Chickpea seeding stood at 78%.
Soil moisture conditions shifted over the past week as warmer, drier weather allowed fields to dry out and improve access. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 82% adequate, up from 70% the previous week, while surplus moisture declined sharply to 8% from 19%. Areas reporting short moisture increased slightly to 10%, including 1% rated very short.
Southeast:
Seeding is reported at 87 per cent complete within the region, up significantly from 61 per cent the week previous. This is on par with the five-year average of 87 per cent.
Rainfall varied in the region with some areas receiving very little moisture while other areas such as Langenburg reported 24 millimetres (mm) of rain. As there is such a variance in rainfall, topsoil moisture in the region ranges from surplus to very short.
Cropland topsoil moisture is: • 9 per cent surplus; • 73 per cent adequate; • 17 per cent short; and • 1 per cent very short.
Southwest:
Seeding is reported at 91 per cent complete within the southwest region, up from 74 per cent the previous week. This is only slightly behind the fiveyear average of 96 per cent.
Rainfall varied but some regions received some much-needed moisture. The Piapot region recorded 60 millimetres (mm) of rain, the Shaunavon area received 44 mm of rain and the Gull Lake area received 38 mm of rain. Even with the hot, windy conditions this rain helped increase topsoil moisture compared to last week.
East-Central:
Seeding is 63 per cent complete within the east-central region, up significantly from 26 per cent the previous week. Challenging spring seeding conditions have put this region behind the fiveyear average of 82 per cent.
Very little rain fell throughout the region last week, with the exception of the Leroy region which reported 27 millimetres (mm) of rain. Hot, windy conditions caused a decrease in topsoil moisture across the region.
West-Central:
Seeding is 90 per cent complete in the west-central region, up from 69 per cent last week and close to the five-year average of 96 per cent.
Rainfall varied across the region with some areas receiving significant moisture. The Luseland area recorded 54 millimetres (mm) of rain, while the Manitou Lake region recorded 52 mm. The localized rainfall helped increase topsoil moisture in the region.
Northeast:
Seeding is at 67 per cent complete for the northeast region, which is up considerably from last week’s 25 per cent completion. Although good seeding progress was made, the region is still behind the fiveyear average of 88 per cent complete.
Rainfall varied across the region with the RM of Torch River receiving the most with 31 millimetres. Topsoil moisture conditions have improved in part to the windy, dry conditions.
Northwest:
Seeding is 86 per cent complete, which is a 31 per cent increase from last week. Although there was significant progress made, the region is still behind the five-year average of 96 per cent complete.
Rainfall was recorded throughout most of the region with the highest amounts in the Maidstone area with 41 millimetres (mm) and Glaslyn region with 26 mm. With the moisture received, topsoil moisture in the region stayed relatively the same as last week.
