By farmnewsNOW Staff

2018 crop almost entirely in the ground

May 31, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Saskatchewan farmers have taken advantage of another week of good weather.

Ninety-one per cent of the provincial crop is now in the ground, according to the Ministry of Agriculture’s weekly crop report for May 22 to 28.  At this time last week the provincial average was 70 per cent. Overall, farmers are now well ahead of the five-year average of 81 per cent for this time of year.

The southwest region remains the most advanced with 95 per cent of the crop already seeded. Farmers in the Shellbrook and North Battleford areas have 90 per cent complete, and farmers in the Prince Albert, Melfort, and Tisdale area are on average 87 per cent done.

Scattered rain showers brought varying amounts of precipitation this past week, helping to temporarily alleviate concerns arising from dry field conditions. Rainfall ranged from 12 mm in the Birch Hills and Frenchman Butte areas to 72 mm in the Humboldt area. While significant rain is still needed in the majority of the province to help crops emerge and hay land and pasture establish, some areas in the northeast have excess moisture. Farmers in the North Battleford area received the most precipitation, with 49 mm in the northwest region since April 1.

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved slightly with the recent rainfalls. Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as one per cent surplus, 51 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture was rated as 38 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short, and 18 per cent very short.

seeding

Lack of moisture allows some Sask. farmers to begin seeding early

Apr 25, 2024

FCC Agrispirit fund

AgriSpirit fund supports rural communities

Apr 24, 2024

Province says tax credit fuels investments in bioprocessing industry

Apr 23, 2024

Overall, emerged crops are reported to be in poor-to-good condition, but emergence has been patchy and delayed by dry field conditions. The majority of crop damage this past week was caused by strong winds, lack of moisture, and insects such as flea beetles and cutworms in canola.  

news@farmnewsnow.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsnow