Seeding is basically done in Saskatchewan as the provincial crop report indicates progress is at 97% complete, up from 88% last week.
The latest figure is slightly ahead of the five-year average of 95% and the ten-year average of 96% for this time of year.
Producers in the southwest, west-central, and northeast regions are essentially finished at 99%, followed closely by the northwest at 98%, and both the southeast and east-central regions are almost done at 95% complete.
The same can be said about crop types, as seeding is wrapped up or nearly done for field peas, spring wheat, durum, barley, triticale, canola, lentils, mustard, flax and oats; but chickpeas, canary seed, soybeans, and perennial forage are behind in seeding progress.
A combination of little to no rain, windy, and dry conditions allowed for additional time in the field to plant crops, but at a cost of declining topsoil moisture levels.
Provincially, crop land moisture is one per cent surplus, 46% adequate, 44% short and 9%very short. Hay land moisture is reported at 1% surplus, 38% adequate, 45% short and 16% very short. Pasture land moisture is 1% surplus, 31% adequate, 48% short and 20% very short.
There was a limited amount of rainfall recorded this past week with the Eldon area recording the most at just 11 millimetres (mm) followed by the Reno and Medstead areas both at nine mm. The Meadow Lake area received eight mm.
The crop report mentioned "mostly good crop emergence across the province with some reports of spotty emergence in later seeded crops."
Here is the current stages of development by crop type: "For pulse crops, soybeans are rated in the best condition with 21 per cent rated excellent, 64 per cent good and 15 per cent fair. This is followed by lentils rated at seven per cent excellent, 72 per cent good and 20 per cent fair, as well as field peas rated at seven per cent excellent, 68 per cent good and 24 per cent fair. Chickpeas are rated at five per cent excellent, 81 per cent good and 14 per cent fair.
For cereal crops, durum is rated at nine per cent in excellent condition, 67 per cent good and 23 per cent fair, while oats are nine per cent excellent, 52 per cent good and 35 per cent fair. Spring wheat is rated at eight per cent in excellent condition, 60 per cent good and 29 per cent fair, followed by barley at seven per cent in excellent condition, 60 per cent good and 30 per cent fair.
Other cereal crops have also been rated as being in mostly good to fair condition. Winter wheat is rated at six per cent in excellent condition, 52 per cent good and 36 per cent fair; fall rye is four per cent excellent, 52 per cent good and 29 per cent fair; canary seed is 10 per cent in excellent condition, 61 per cent good and 27 per cent fair, and finally triticale is 62 per cent good and 33 per cent fair.
For oilseed crops, flax is rated at 12 per cent excellent, 62 per cent good and 24 per cent fair, followed by canola at seven per cent excellent condition, 50 per cent good and 35 per cent fair. Mustard is at two per cent excellent, 65 per cent good and 32 per cent fair."
The dry, warm, and windy conditions were a factor in crop damage in some areas and there have been reports of damage due to flea beetle, cutworm, grasshopper, wireworm, and wildlife. The damage, however, is minor overall.
Producers continue to seed and spray, along with rock picking, land rolling and moving cattle out to pasture and branding.
They are also reminded to be safe while working.
A look at the crop report by growing region can be found in the link below.
