11 per cent of Saskatchewan’s crop has been seeded, according to latest report

May 15, 2017

The most seeding has occurred in the southeast region

By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com

Farmers in Saskatchewan have seeded about 11 per cent of the province’s total crops, according to the latest Crop Report for the week of May 2 to 8.

The number is below the five-year average of 16 per cent. And at this time last year, producers had seeded 35 per cent of crops.

Regionally, the southeast part of the province has seeded 30 per cent of its crop. Farmers have seeded 18 per cent of crops in the southwest, 3 per cent in the west-central region, 2 per cent in the northwestern and east-central regions, and 1 per cent in the northeast.

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The majority of Saskatchewan cropland (71 per cent) has adequate topsoil moisture levels. 26 per cent of cropland has surplus topsoil moisture levels, while 3 per cent is short, according to the report.

Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 14 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate and 6 per cent short.

REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Region	Areas	Highlights
Southeast	Carnduff, Estevan, Redvers, Moosomin, Kipling, Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina, Qu-Appelle, Radville, Minton and Lake Alma	30 per cent of total crops are seeded, up from five-year average of 21 per cent. 24mm of rain fell in Moose Jaw last week. Some producers are still harvesting 2016 crops and burning flax stubble. There are concerns that dry fields could delay germination and emergence.
Southwest	Coronach, Assiniboia, Ogema, Gravelbourg, Mossbank, Mortlach, Central Butte, Kyle, Swift Current, Shaunavon, Ponteix, Consul, Maple Creek and Leader	18 per cent of total crops have been seeded, down from five-year average of 31 per cent. Gravelbourg received 20mm of rain last week. Farmers are burning flax stubble and continue to harvest last year’s crops.
East-Central	Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville, Kelvington, Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet	2 per cent of the region’s crops have been seeded, down from the five-year average of 7 per cent. Many fields are still saturated, as 29mm of rain fell near Allan and 24mm fell in Kenaston. Many fields are too soft and equipment is getting stuck. The wet conditions have made it harder to harvest last year’s crop.
West-Central	Hanley, Outlook, Loreburn, Saskatoon, Arelee, Rosetown, Kindersley, Eston, Major, Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie and Biggar	3 per cent of the region’s crops have been seeded, down from the 12 per cent five-year average. 40mm of rain fell in Outlook and another 32mm of rain fell in Hanley. Many fields remain too wet for combining. Some municipalities have put fire bans in place.
Northeastern	Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth, Aberdeen, Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood	1 per cent of region’s crop have been seeded, down from the five-year average of 8 per cent. Many fields are too wet for producers to complete harvesting of last year’s crop, weed control or harrowing. 36mm of rain fell in Prince Albert last week.
Northwestern	Shellbrook, North Battleford, Big River, Hafford, Meadow Lake, Turtleford, Pierceland, Maidstone and Lloydminster	2 per cent of the region’s crops have been seeded, down from the 12 per cent five-year average. Pierceland has received 141mm of rain since April 1. Combining has been slow. Some producers have been burning crop residue. Many fields are too wet for seeding.