Saskatchewan planting is nearing the halfway mark, with just limited rainfall the past week allowing significant progress in the fields.
The weekly Saskatchewan crop report on Thursday pegged overall planting across the province at 49% complete as of Monday, up 18 points from the previous week and comfortably ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 32% and 34%. Some producers in the southwest region have already wrapped up planting for the year, the report added.
The southwest region continues to lead in planting progress at 76% complete as of Monday, followed by the northwest at 49%. The southeast, west-central, and northeast regions were all at 43% done as of Monday, with the east-central region bringing up the rear at 33% complete.
But while planting is advancing well, the report said warm, dry, and windy conditions are continuing to deplete topsoil moisture across the province. The highest reported rainfall this past week fell in the Marengo area at 14 mm, followed by the Wadena area at 13 mm. Many other areas reported just trace to limited rainfall for the week.
Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 1% surplus, 61% adequate, 35% short and 3% very short as of Monday, a significant downgrade compared to just a week earlier at 3% surplus, 78% adequate, 16% short and 3% very short as of Monday. Last year at this time, cropland topsoil moisture was rated 4% surplus, 86% adequate, 9% short and 1% very short.
“Producers are hopeful for moisture soon to help support crop development and improve hay and pasture conditions,” the report said.
Meanwhile, 12% of livestock producers are currently indicating that moderate shortages are occurring with 2% reporting severe shortages. 54% of producers currently estimate there are no shortages of on-farm surface water supplies for livestock occurring or anticipated, with 32% estimating that shortages may occur in one to two months depending on future moisture conditions.
Pulse crops continue to lead in seeding progress with peas at 78% planted as of Monday, lentils at 71%, and chickpeas at 65%. Among the cereals, durum planting was 65% complete, spring wheat at 53%, barley at 45%, oats at 28%, and canary at 28%. Of the oilseed crops, mustard was 66% planted, followed by canola at 29% and flax at 28%. Soybeans were 14% planted.
Southeast:
Producers were able to make considerable seeding progress over the past week. Currently, seeding is 43 per cent complete within the region. This is up 29 per cent from last week and ahead of the five-year regional average of 27 per cent
Pulse crops lead in seeding completion with field peas at 76 per cent complete, chickpeas at 61 per cent and lentils at 58 per cent complete within the region. Durum is the highest in seeding completion of the cereals at 53 per cent, followed by spring wheat at 42 per cent, oats at 40 per cent, barley at 39 per cent, triticale at 21 per cent and canary seed at 18 per cent. Of the oilseed crops, mustard is the furthest ahead in seeding completion at 24 per cent, followed by flax at 22 per cent and canola at 20 per cent. The furthest behind in seeding completion for the region is soybeans at 14 per cent followed by perennial forage at 10 per cent complete.
Although precipitation fell within parts of the region over the past week, amounts were limited overall. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Lipton and Lumsden areas at 8 millimetres (mm) and 5 mm, respectively. The Regina, Glenavon and Radville areas all reported 3 mm over the past week.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture within the region is rated as two per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Southwest:
Producers were able to make rapid seeding progress over the past week with some producers wrapping up seeding for the year. Currently, seeding is 76 per cent complete within the region. This is up 33 per cent from last week and ahead of the five-year regional average of 49 per cent.
All crops within the region made considerable seeding progress over the past week. Of the pulse crops, field peas are the furthest ahead in seeding completion at 91 per cent, followed by lentils at 81 per cent and chickpeas at 78 per cent. Triticale is the furthest ahead in seeding completion for the cereal crops in the region at 96 per cent, followed by barley at 83 per cent, durum at 80 per cent, spring wheat at 75 per cent, oats at 64 per cent and canary seed at 61 per cent. Of the oilseed crops, mustard leads in seeding completion at 87 per cent, followed by canola at 80 per cent and flax at 67 per cent. Soybeans are currently 73 per cent seeded within the region and perennial forage is 57 per cent seeded.
Trace amounts of precipitation were recorded over much of the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Tuxford area at 5 millimetres (mm), followed by the Moose Jaw and Shaunavon areas at 3 mm.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 48 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and five per cent very short.
East-Central:
Although there was scattered rainfall within the region, producers were able to make considerable seeding progress over the past week. Currently, seeding is 33 per cent complete within the region. This is up 24 per cent from last week and ahead of the five-year regional average of 17 per cent.
Of the crops seeded within the region, durum is the farthest along at 82 per cent seeded, followed by lentils at 66 per cent and field peas at 64 per cent. Spring wheat is currently 37 per cent seeded, followed by barley at 32 per cent, flax at 23 per cent, canola at 18 per cent and oats at 13 per cent. Perennial forage and soybeans are the furthest behind in seeding completion at 11 per cent and two per cent, respectively.
Precipitation was scattered throughout the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Wadena area at 13 millimetres (mm) followed by the Canora area that recorded 8 mm.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short and one per cent very short.
West-Central
Producers were able to make substantial seeding progress over the past week despite some areas within the region receiving rainfall. Currently, seeding is 43 per cent complete within the region. This is up 32 per cent from last week and ahead of the five-year regional average of 36 per cent.
Pulse crops lead in seeding completion with lentils at 72 per cent complete and field peas at 68 per cent complete within the region. Spring wheat is the highest in seeding completion of the cereals at 49 per cent, followed by durum at 36 per cent, barley at 34 per cent, canary seed at 30 per cent and oats at two per cent. Of the oilseed crops, canola is the furthest ahead in seeding completion at 37 per cent, followed by flax at 24 per cent and mustard at 21 per cent. Perennial forage and soybeans are the furthest behind in seeding completion at nine per cent and one per cent, respectively.
Although precipitation fell within parts of the region over the past week, many areas received trace amounts. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Marengo area at 14 millimetres (mm). The Macklin area reported 10 mm followed by the Marsden area at 8 mm.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 59 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and six per cent very short.
Northeast:
Producers were able to make considerable seeding progress over the past week. Currently, seeding is 43 per cent complete within the region. This is up 34 per cent from last week and ahead of the five-year regional average of 19 per cent.
Of the crops seeded, field peas lead in seeding completion at 73 per cent, followed by spring wheat at 68 per cent, lentils at 46 per cent, oats at 45 per cent, barley at 42 per cent, canary seed at 27 per cent and durum at 18 per cent. Of the oilseed crops, flax is 23 per cent seeded followed by canola at 18 per cent. Perennial forage and soybeans are the furthest behind in seeding completion at 15 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively.
Precipitation was scattered throughout the region over the past week with some areas reporting trace amounts. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Porcupine Plain area at 7 millimetres (mm) followed by the Garrick area that recorded 5 mm.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 55 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Northwest:
Although there was scattered rainfall within the region, producers were able to make substantial seeding progress over the past week. Currently, seeding is 49 per cent complete within the region. This is up 34 per cent from last week and ahead of the five-year regional average of 33 per cent.
Pulse crops lead in seeding completion for the region with field peas reported to be 89 per cent seeded followed by lentils at 83 per cent. Spring wheat is 78 per cent seeded followed by barley at 39 per cent, oats at 30 per cent and triticale at 20 per cent. Of the oilseed crops for the region, flax is the furthest ahead in seeding completion at 37 per cent followed by canola at 28 per cent.
Precipitation was scattered throughout the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Meadow Lake area at 11 millimetres (mm) followed by the Maidstone and Lloydminster areas at 6 mm.
Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 49 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 11 per cent very short.
