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As crops begin to emerge on Saskatchewan farms, producers are “looking forward to warmer weather” in the weeks ahead.
According to the provincial government’s latest crop report, after a cold and rainy start to the season, seeding progress has “greatly advanced over the past week.” Seeding progress is now 94 per cent complete, almost on par with the five-year and 10-year average of 97 per cent complete at this point in the season.
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2024 seeding progress: Provincial
The southeast and southwest regions are furthest ahead, with their seeding 96 per cent complete, while the east-central, west-central and northeast regions still have eight per cent of their seeding left to go.
Throughout the province, seeding is “nearly complete” for field peas, lentils, spring wheat and durum. On the other hand, mustard, triticale and perennial forage crops are “the furthest behind in seeding progress,” according to the report.
This was another week of “variable rainfall throughout the province,” with some areas reporting extremely heavy rainfall. The Porcupine Plain area saw 83 mm of rain, while Foam Lake saw 73 mm, and the Ituna and Lipton areas both recorded 52 mm.
“In some regions, producers reported localized heavy rain caused crops to drown out in lower areas within the field,” the crop report read.
However, with all this precipitation, topsoil moisture conditions have “continued to increase.”
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated at 95 per cent adequate or surplus, while both hayland and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated at 90 per cent adequate or surplus.
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2024 cropland topsoil moisture conditions
Various causes of crop damage were reported this week, including “minor” damage caused by wind, frost and hail. Flea beetles and cutworms are also starting to cause problems on some farms.
But now that the vast majority of this year’s crops are in the ground, despite “cooler temperatures and delays in seeding progress,” producers are starting to report crop development.
Nearly half of winter cereals are in the tillering stage of development, while 14 per cent of pulse crops are at the vegetative stage and over half of this year’s canola, mustard and flax are still at the seedling stage.
Crop development reported from May 28-June 3, 2024
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