Province of Saskatchewan
Submitted
Producers have made tremendous progress last week with 74 per cent of the 2021 crop now seeded, well ahead of the five-year average of 48 per cent (2016-2020) for this time of year.
Minimal rain and fair weather across the province has allowed producers to seed without any prolonged delays.
Eighty-two per cent of the crop has been seeded in the southwest region. Seventy-nine per cent has been seeded in the southeast, 77 per cent seeded in both the west-central and northwest regions and 63 per cent seeded in the east-central and northeast regions.
Ninety-three per cent of the field peas, 93 per cent of the lentils, 83 per cent of the durum, 83 per cent of the chickpeas, 80 per cent of the spring wheat, 78 per cent of the canola and 75 per cent of the barley have been seeded to date.
There was scattered rainfall throughout most regions in the province this week. The Tisdale area received the highest amount at 25 mm thanks to a thunderstorm. The Christopher Lake area received 13 mm and the Pelly area received 10 mm.
The rain is welcomed but more is needed to address the current extremely dry conditions throughout the province.
Limited precipitation and warm windy conditions throughout the province have further reduced topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 20 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 13 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 50 per cent very short.
Some farmers have halted seeding canola while they wait for rain in the forecast. Others have opted to seed wheat or other cereals instead. Very little spraying is happening in the province due to low weed emergence and strong winds making for poor spraying conditions. For many parts of the province where precipitation has been very low, crop germination has been poor and patchy.
Northeastern Saskatchewan
Fair weather has allowed producers to make great progress with seeding with 63 per cent of the 2021 crop in the ground, which is above the five-year average (2016-2020) for this time of year of 22 per cent.
Ninety-eight per cent of the field peas, 96 per cent of the spring wheat, 80 per cent of the canary seed, 77 per cent of the barley, 77 per cent of the oats, 62 per cent of the flax and 50 per cent of the canola has been seeded to date.
With the wildfire in the Prince Albert area and windy conditions, some crop reporters have noted large amounts of smoke in their areas. Windy conditions have also prevented some producers from spraying. There was a thunderstorm in the Tisdale area that resulted in 25 mm of rain in a localized area. The Christopher Lake area received 13 mm, the Lake Lenore area got five mm and the Kinistino area received four mm.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and ten per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.
Producers are spraying weeds that have emerged, rock picking, harrowing and tending to their cattle.
Northwestern Saskatchewan
Producers in the northwest have made further progress with 77 per cent currently seeded. This is ahead of the five-year average (2016-2020) of 31 percent for this time of year. Within the region 95 per cent of the field peas, 85 per cent of the lentils, 84 per cent of the spring wheat, 75 per cent of the durum, 73 per cent of the barley and 73 per cent of the canola are seeded to date.
The region received very little precipitation in the form of scattered showers during the week. The North Battleford and Turtleford areas received the highest amount of precipitation in the region with around two mm. The Mayfair and Frenchmen Butte areas received one mm.
Warm temperatures and little rain over the past week have allowed the soil moisture conditions to deteriorate.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, six per cent adequate and 70 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, zero per cent adequate, 75 per cent short and 25 per cent very short.
Producers are busy seeding, harrowing and spaying weeds.
