(file photo/farmnewsNOW Staff)

By Alice McFarlane

2024 Saskatchewan Crop Report

Seeding lags behind five year average in Saskatchewan

May 30, 2024 | 12:41 PM

Seeding is now 77 per cent complete in Saskatchewan which is behind the five-year average of 91 per cent.

The southeast is the furthest advanced in seeding progress at 84 per cent complete. This is followed closely by the southwest at 83 per cent and the northwest at 80 per cent. The west-central regions are at 71 per cent. The northeast region has completed 68 per cent of their seeding operations. The east central area is at 73 per cent.

Muenster area farmer George Hinz started seeding on May 9 following a couple of inches of rain. More rain resulted in a four-day break between May 16 and 19 with seeding resuming after that.

Hinz said while the May moisture has been very much appreciated, warmer weather will be needed in June to speed up crop development.

“We haven’t had enough heat. Last week was darn cool. In fact, I did see frost on a rooftop one of those mornings. I didn’t hear of any guys suffering damage like early seeded canola,” he said. “My point is it was awfully cool. We’ve only been 18 and 19 (Celsius) and at night going down to 5. We need some heat to speed up crop development.”

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The Muenster area received more rain last year than most areas of the province. Hinz said the two inches of rain in early May was very welcome.

“I guess I maybe underestimated because when we got that rain and I thought, oh boy, we’re going to have puddles everywhere. But it didn’t take long it all soaked away so the ground still had capacity to absorb that water. I guess it maybe was drier than I initially thought it was.”

Hinz believes about 60 per cent of farmers in his area are finished seeding, 20 per cent hope to be finished by the end of the weekend and the remainder will be seeding in early June.

Seeding progress by crop has field peas and lentils at 92 per cent and 91 per cent complete respectively. Chickpeas and soybeans are reported at 78 per cent and 51 per cent. For cereal crops, durum and spring wheat are the furthest ahead at 87 per cent and 84 per cent. Barley is at 76 per cent followed by oats at 67 per cent. For oilseeds, mustard is 78 per cent followed by canola at 71 per cent and flax at 67 per cent. Perennial forages are at 49 per cent complete.

Rainfall was variable across the province with many producers in the northern regions receiving larger amounts. The highest reported rainfall was in the Sonningdale area at 45 mm. The Battlefords and Radisson areas received 36 mm and the Rose Valley area received 33 mm.

Crop damage was minor with a few producers reporting light frost and areas with excessive water, but limited crop damage.

There has been flea beetle and cutworm activity noted, with some producers taking control measures. Some regions have observed grasshoppers hatching but no current reports of crop damage.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

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