Seeding in Saskatchewan nearly 90 per cent complete

Seeding in Saskatchewan is nearing completion in many areas.

In the weekly crop report, which was issued Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture said farmers in the northwest have 97 per cent of the crop in the ground. Those in the west-central region are 94 per cent done, while producers in the southwest are 90 per cent complete.

Provincewide, 89 per cent of the crop is in the ground, just behind the five-year average of 92 per cent for this time of year.

The ministry said seeding is almost done for peas (95 per cent), lentils (94 per cent), chickpeas (94 per cent) and mustard (94 per cent). Oats (78 per cent) and flax (80 per cent) are the crops that are lagging in the province.

The report said crops already are ranked as being in good to excellent condition.

“Spring wheat is currently rated as being in the best condition, with 27 per cent of the province’s crop being excellent and 60 per cent being good,” the report said. “This is followed by barley (23 per cent excellent, 65 per cent good) and pea (23 per cent excellent, 64 per cent good). Mustard and chickpea are currently at seven per cent of the crop being excellent provincially.”

According to the report, recent rains have helped topsoil moisture levels across the province. Across the province, five per cent of cropland has surplus soil moisture, 76 per cent is adequate, 17 per cent is short and two per cent is very short.

However, 16 per cent of the northeast has a surplus of soil moisture, while six per cent of the southwest is very short.

Three per cent of pasture and hay land topsoil have excess topsoil moisture, 69 per cent have adequate, 24 per cent are short, and four per cent are very short. As well, 14 per cent of the northeast has surplus topsoil moisture and 10 per cent of the northwest is considered very short.