Farmers are over half-way done seeding even as rain continued to fall in many areas.
The Provincial crop report for the week of May 14 to 20 shows seeding at 56 per cent complete, up from 32 per cent last week.
The southwest region continues to lead the way at 64 per cent complete but not too far behind is the northwest at 63 per cent and the southeast at 61 per cent. The east-central region is at 54 per cent complete, northeast 48 and west-central 47 per cent.
This year’s progress though is behind the 5-year average of 76 per cent and 10-year average of 74 per cent.
Some early-seeded crops are emerging with good emergence overall, according to the province-wide report. Crop development is at it’s expected normal stage for this time of year but rain this past week has delayed development of crops in some areas.
Producers are hoping for a break to continue seeding. They’re also out applying herbicide.
Staying with the rain, the Mossbank area got the most at 58 mm, followed by Meadow Lake at 52 mm, and Choiceland 51 mm.
While rain is delaying farmers from being in the field, it continues to help topsoil moisture conditions. Moisture for cropland is rate at six per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at three per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and one per cent very short. And moisture for pasture land is rated at three per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Livestock producers, who continue to brand cattle, are also monitoring conditions while moving herds out to pasture. Pasture conditions across the province are rated as 12 per cent excellent, 55 per cent good, 26 per cent fair, six per cent poor and one per cent very poor.
There were reports of crop damage due to frost, minor flooding, wind and hail; although not widespread, some producers noted crop damage due to cutworms, wireworms and flea beetles.
A breakdown of each region’s seeding progress is below.
Southeast
Producers in the southeast have made great progress over the last week despite some rain delays. Currently, 61 per cent of the crop is seeded in the region. This is up 25 per cent from last week’s reported progress. This falls behind the five-year average for the region of 71 per cent.
Rain fell throughout most of the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded was in the Whitewood and Avonlea areas at 36 mm and 33 mm respectively. These amounts were closely followed in the Rouleau region at 28 mm. The Big Beaver and Stoughton areas received 25 mm and 20 mm respectively. Despite the rainfall over the last couple weeks, producers reported that so far only one per cent of the region did not get seeded this spring due to excess moisture.
Topsoil moisture conditions for cropland are estimated at five per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate, six per cent short and one per cent very short. Hayland and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are both reported at two per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Producers rate current pasture conditions as 19 per cent excellent, 65 per cent good, 12 per cent fair, two per cent poor and three per cent very poor.
As seeding progresses throughout the region, earlier seeded crops are emerging. Producers estimate that fall and spring cereals are 80 per cent and 70 per cent of normal development for this time of year. Pulse crops and oilseeds are estimated to both be at 71 per cent normal development. Producers noted slight delays to crop development as compared to the expected development stage for this time of the year due to cooler temperatures. Oilseeds are the most delayed at 23 per cent behind the expected development stage for this time of year.
Producers have reported some crop damage from minor flooding, frost and wind. A few areas within the region also noted some cutworm and wireworm activity.
Producers will be busy over the next couple weeks with moving cattle to pasture, branding, herbicide applications and finishing seeding operations.
Southwest
Despite seeding delays due to rainfall, the southwest region was able to progress to 64 per cent seeding completion. This is up 19 per cent from last week’s reported progress, but still behind the five-year average of 85 per cent.
Rain fell throughout the entire region this week. The Mossbank area reported the highest rainfall at 58 mm. The Eston, Admiral and Swift Current areas received 33 mm, 29 mm and 21 mm respectively. At the time of reporting, producers indicated that no areas within region were unable to be seeded this spring due to excess moisture.
With the continued rainfall over the past few weeks, topsoil moisture conditions have continued to improve. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at five per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and three per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is estimated to be four per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate, eight per cent short and two per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is six per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and two per cent very short.
Current pasture conditions within the region are rated as 14 per cent excellent, 52 per cent good, 27 per cent fair and seven per cent poor.
With earlier seeded crops emerging, producers estimate that the majority of fall and spring cereals, 98 per cent and 74 per cent respectively, are at normal stages of development for this time of year. Oilseeds are reported at 76 per cent at normal stages of development with 24 per cent falling behind. For pulse crops, 70 per cent are at normal stages of development and 30 per cent are reported as falling behind the expected development stage for this time of the year.
Producers within the region report some frost and wind damage along with the presence of flea beetles and wireworms this week.
As producers continue with branding, seeding, herbicide applications and land rolling, a timely rain would be appreciated within the region once seeding is complete.
East-Central
Seeding has progressed rapidly within the region despite some rain delays this week. Currently, the region has 54 per cent of the crop seeded. This is up 32 per cent from last week’s reported progress but behind the five-year average for the region of 63 per cent.
Rainfall was reported throughout much of the region with the highest rainfall recorded in the Hyas area at 46 mm. The Foam Lake area reported 45 mm and the Yorkton area reported 38 mm over the past week. The Kenaston and Wadena areas received 26 mm and 24 mm respectively. Despite the rainfall over the last couple weeks, producers only report that one per cent of their area within the region did not get seeded this spring due to excess moisture.
Topsoil moisture conditions have declined slightly from last week’s reported numbers. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is estimated at 12 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at two per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and 20 per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture is two per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate and 24 per cent short.
Producers are reporting current pasture conditions as 13 per cent excellent, 44 per cent good, 34 per cent fair and nine per cent very poor.
The east-central region is reporting fall and spring cereals at 66 per cent and 49 per cent of their normal stages of development for this time of year, respectively. Twenty-nine per cent of fall cereals are behind the normal stages of development for this time of year, while spring cereals are 49 per cent behind. Fifty-five per cent of oilseeds in the region are reported as being at the normal stages of development while 45 per cent are behind. Of the pulse crops seeded in the region, 65 per cent are at normal stages of development with 35 per cent falling behind the expected development stage for this time of the year.
Producers have reported some crop damage from minor flooding, frost, hail and wind. A few areas within the region also noted some cutworm, wireworm and flea beetle activity.
When weather allows, producers will be seeding, rock picking, harrowing and applying herbicides. Cattle are starting to be moved out to pasture.
West-Central
Widespread rainfall delayed seeding throughout the region over the past week. Currently, 47 per cent of the crop seeded. This is up 24 per cent from last week’s reported progress, but behind the five-year average for the region of 85 per cent.
All areas within the region reported rainfall over the last week. The highest rainfall recorded was in the Unity and Macklin areas at 31 mm and 30 mm respectively. The Sonningale area reported 28 mm and the Rosetown area reported 25 mm.
The rain has helped to improve topsoil moisture conditions within the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at one per cent surplus, 93 per cent adequate and six per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is estimated at 82 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and two per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is one per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and one per cent very short.
Current pasture conditions within the region are rated as 16 per cent excellent, 51 per cent good, 22 per cent fair, ten per cent poor and one per cent very poor.
The region is reporting that 89 per cent of fall cereals and 58 per cent of spring cereals are at normal stages of development for this time of year. Eleven per cent of fall cereals are behind the normal stages of development and spring cereals are reported as 42 per cent behind in the region. Oilseeds are reported at 47 per cent at normal stages of development with 53 per cent falling behind. Pulse crops are at 59 per cent normal stages of development with 41 per cent falling behind the expected development stage for this time of the year.
Producers within the region report some minor flooding, frost and wind damage. No other crop damage was reported for the week.
Over the next couple weeks, producers will be busy with moving cattle to pasture, branding, herbicide applications and finishing seeding operations.
Northeast
Seeding was delayed throughout most of the region over the past week due to rainfall. Currently, the region has 48 per cent of the crop seeded. This is up 22 per cent from last week’s reported progress. However, producers are still behind the five-year average for the region of 69 per cent.
Rainfall was widespread throughout the region with the highest recorded amounts in the Choiceland area at 51 mm followed by the Nipawin area at 48 mm. The Melfort and Prince Albert areas both reported 40 mm of rainfall over the past week. At the time of reporting, producers indicated that two per cent of their area within region did not get seeded this spring due to excess moisture and one per cent is flooded and unlikely to produce a crop.
With the continued rainfall over the past few weeks, topsoil moisture conditions have continued to show improvements over previous reports. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is estimated at 16 per cent surplus and 84 per cent adequate. Hayland topsoil moisture is reported at three per cent surplus, 95 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture is three per cent surplus, 94 per cent adequate and three per cent short.
Producers rate current pasture conditions as 17 per cent excellent, 57 per cent good, 25 per cent fair and one per cent poor.
The region is reporting fall and spring cereals are 83 per cent and 68 per cent, respectively, at normal stages of development for this time of year. Fourteen per cent of fall cereals are behind the normal stages of development for this time of year and spring cereals are falling 29 per cent behind. Seventy-eight per cent of oilseeds are reported as being at normal stages of development while 22 per cent falling behind. Pulse crops are at 67 per cent normal stages of development with 32 per cent falling behind the expected development stage for this time of the year.
Producers have reported some crop damage from excess moisture, frost and hail. They continue to report that some winter wheat will need to be re-seeded to a spring crop due to winter kill from lack of snow cover.
When weather allows, producers will be back in their fields continuing seeding operations, herbicide applications, and moving cattle out to pasture.
Northwest
Rainfall throughout most of the region caused seeding delays over the past week. Currently, the region is reporting 63 per cent seeding completion. This is an increase of 30 per cent from last week’s reported progress, still behind the five-year average of 82 per cent for the region.
Rainfall was reported throughout much of the region with the highest rainfall recorded in the Meadow Lake area at 52 mm. The Prince Albert area received 36 mm and both the North Battleford and Barthel areas received 29 mm. Producers indicated at the time of reporting that one per cent of their area within region did not get seeded this spring due to excess moisture.
With the recent rainfall, topsoil moisture conditions have shown significant improvements over previous reports. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at five per cent surplus, 91 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is estimated to be 92 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 90 per cent adequate and ten per cent short.
Current pasture conditions within the region are rated as nine per cent excellent, 59 per cent good, 31 per cent fair and two per cent poor.
The region is reporting that 100 per cent of fall cereals are at normal stages of development for this time of year. Seventy-six per cent of spring cereals at normal stages of development, with 16 per cent falling behind the normal stages of development. Oilseeds are reported at 75 per cent at normal stages of development with 21 per cent falling behind. Pulse crops are at 87 per cent normal stages of development with nine per cent falling behind the expected development stage for this time of the year.
Producers within the region report some minor flooding, frost and wind damage. No other crop damage was reported for the week.
Over the next couple weeks, producers will be busy continuing with their seeding operations and herbicide applications. Producers with cattle indicated that they will be moving them to summer pastures in the coming weeks.