Saskatchewan seeding continued to advance over the past week, with several regions now nearing completion despite progress still running slightly behind normal.
The latest weekly provincial crop report on Thursday showed seeding at 93% complete as of Monday, up from 80% a week earlier. However, progress remains behind both the five- and 10-year averages of 97% for this time of year. Last year at this time, seeding was wrapped up for the year.
The west-central region is the furthest advanced at 98% complete, followed closely by the southwest at 97%. Seeding is 96% complete in the southeast, 95% in the northwest and 92% in the northeast. The east-central region made gains over the week but continues to trail the rest of the province at 84% complete.
Provincially, seeding is nearly finished for field peas, lentils, durum and spring wheat, while other cereal and oilseed crops also made further progress. Field peas are 99% seeded, followed by durum at 97%, spring wheat and lentils at 96% each, and canola at 93%. Barley is 91% complete, chickpeas 87%, flax 86%, oats 85%, canary seed 79%, mustard 75% and triticale 71%.
Rainfall varied widely across the province. Some areas received little to no precipitation, while the Calder area reported 164 mm. The RM of Fertile Belt received 118 mm and the Langenburg region recorded 116 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions were relatively stable overall, although surplus moisture increased in some areas following the heavier rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture was rated 13% surplus, 77% adequate, 9% short and 1% very short as of Monday.
Crop development remains variable because of differing environmental conditions and seeding dates, the report said. Winter cereals range from tillering to heading, with 36% at the tillering stage and 24% heading. Spring cereals are mostly at the seedling stage, while pulse crops are split between pre-emergence, seedling and vegetative stages.
Canola and mustard are also mostly in early development, with 35% still pre-emergent, 60% at the seedling stage and 5% at the rosette stage. Flax is mainly at the seedling stage, with a small portion beginning stem elongation.
Southeast:
Seeding is wrapping up in the region and is currently at 96 per cent complete, up 10 per cent from the previous week and right in line with the five-year average of 96 per cent.
Rainfall was reported across the region with some areas receiving significant amounts. The largest amount fell in the Esterhazy region with 118 millimetres (mm), followed by the Langenburg area with 116 mm. Other regions that received substantial amounts of rain are the Saltcoats region with 101 mm and the Kipling region with 96 mm. This rainfall increased the number of acres with surplus topsoil moisture; however, because the heavy rainfall was not evenly distributed across the region, some areas continue to experience short or very short topsoil moisture.
Southwest:
Southwestern Saskatchewan is close to finishing seeding and sitting at 97 per cent complete, very close to the five-year average of 99 per cent. Rainfall was variable across the region with the largest amount falling in the RM of Arlington with 57 millimetres (mm) and the RM of Webb with 40 mm. With the recent rainfall in the area, surplus topsoil moisture levels increased compared to last week.
East-Central:
The east-central region is at 84 per cent seeded which is an increase from last week’s 63 per cent, but still behind the five-year average of 93 per cent. Challenging spring seeding conditions continue to impact producers in this region.
Rainfall was variable across the region with some areas getting significant amounts. The Calder region received 164 millimetres (mm) of rain and the Canora region received 72 mm. This rainfall increased topsoil moisture levels in the region.
West-Central:
Seeding progress in the west-central region is essentially wrapped up at 98 per cent complete. This is an increase of seven per cent from last week and right in line with the five-year average of 99 per cent.
Rainfall was variable across the region with the Major region receiving 24 millimetres (mm) and the Marengo area receiving 18 mm. Topsoil moisture conditions remain in fairly good condition.
Northeast:
Seeding progress increased by 25 per cent to 92 per cent complete. This is still slightly behind the five-year average of 97 per cent.
Rainfall was variable across the region with the highest amounts falling in the Rose Valley region with 45 millimetres (mm) and the Lake Lenore region with 41 mm. Topsoil moisture conditions improved across the region due to the rainfall.
Northwest:
Seeding progress in the region increased to 95 per cent complete. This is up from 86 per cent last week and just behind the five-year average of 98 per cent complete.
Rainfall was variable across the region with the largest amount falling in the Hafford region with 58 millimetres (mm) and the Pierceland region with 30 mm. Topsoil moisture levels across the region decreased slightly.
