Seeding 32 per cent complete across Saskatchewan: Crop Report

Farmers in Saskatchewan made major progress on seeding over the past week.

According to the weekly Crop Report from the Ministry of Agriculture, seeding progressed by 20 per cent in the week ending on Monday. Seeding is now 32 per cent complete in the province, though the wet start to the season means seeding is still behind the five-year average of 54 per cent.

Seeding is furthest ahead in the southwest (45 per cent), followed by the southeast (36 per cent). Fifty-three per cent of field pea crops have been seeded, along with 39 per cent of chickpeas, 38 per cent of durum, 36 per cent of spring wheat, and 30 per cent of barley.

Soybeans are furthest behind, with just eight per cent of this year’s crop in the ground.

“Producers are busy seeding while watching their early seeded crops begin to emerge,” the report noted.

“Many are applying pre-seed herbicide products as the recent rainfall and heat has allowed weeds to emerge ahead of seeding.”

The Richmound area got 59 millimetres of rain over the week covered by the report, while the areas around Avonlea and Leader each saw 48 mm of rain.

“Provincial topsoil moisture conditions remain adequate this week,” the report read.

According to the report, cropland topsoil moisture was rated at four per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and one per cent very short.

For hayland, moisture levels were rated as two per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and two per cent very short.

In pastures, moisture was rated as two per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and two per cent very short.

“Cattle are being moved out to greening pastures and branding has started,” the report noted.

“Producers are reminded to be safe during their field activities and watch for overhead powerlines while moving equipment in fields and farmyards this spring.”

The full report can be found on the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture’s website.