SOUTHEASTERN SASKATCHEWAN CROP REGION — Seeding is progressing slowly with the most progress being seen in the western half of the region. Forty-four per cent of the crop is now in the ground, up from 17 per cent last week but behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 81 per cent for this time of year. Seeding has been continually delayed due to rain, snow and cool weather since the beginning of the 2022 growing season.
Compared to previous weeks, there was less precipitation received across the region, however, some areas still received enough rain to delay seeding for a couple days. The Moosomin area received 40 mm, the Grenfell area 36 mm, the Indian Head area 32 mm and the Broadview and Odessa areas 24 mm. Heat is now needed to accelerate growth of both crop and pasture land since adequate moisture has been received so far.
The topsoil moisture levels across the region continue to improve. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 34 per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, three per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, nine per cent short, and three per cent very short. Pasture conditions are rated as 20 per cent excellent, 51 per cent good, 24 per cent fair, four per cent poor and one per cent very poor.
Due to cool rainy weather over the past several weeks, crop emergence was slow and now development of most crops in the region are rated as being behind normal. Most of the crop damage that did occur this week was due to frost and flooding.
Provincial overview: Still behind average
Seeding progress climbed throughout many regions in the past week, despite a storm that brought snow and rain to parts of the province. Fifty-two per cent of the 2022 crop is now seeded, up from 33 per cent last week. This is still behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 78 per cent for this time of year. The rainfall received over the past week in drier areas will help improve soil moisture conditions and establishment of early seeded crops.
The west central region is the farthest along with 81 per cent of the crop seeded. Seventy-six per cent of the crop is seeded in the northwest, 73 per cent seeded in the southwest, 44 per cent seeded in the southeast, 22 per cent seeded in the northeast and 21 per cent seeded in the east-central region of the province.
The east received significant amounts of precipitation. The Hudson Bay area reported 88 mm, the Jedburgh area 85 mm, the Rama area 83 mm, the Indian Head area 32 mm and the Biggar and Cando areas 11 mm. While rain is welcome in the eastern half of the province, many producers are eager to continue their seeding operations.
Soil moisture continues to improve across the province, mainly in the eastern regions where most of the spring precipitation was received. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 15 per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and eleven per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are rated as 10 per cent excellent, 27 per cent good, 36 per cent fair, 16 per cent poor and 11 per cent very poor. Pastures in the western half of province are struggling to establish this spring due to very limited precipitation causing many livestock producers in the area to continue to feed cattle on farm.
Earlier seeded crops have started to emerge where moisture is sufficient, but cool weather over the past week has slowed development of many crops. In general, most crops are rated as normal for their development except for canola, which was rated as 67 per cent behind. This is likely due to the extremely dry conditions in the southwest and west central regions, delaying growth and the recent cool weather across the whole province. Most of the crop damage this week was due to minor flooding, light frosts, drought conditions and flea beetles. Producers continue to report that there is a shortage of farm equipment parts. There are also some reports of input and herbicide shortages throughout the province.
