With seeding all but completed in the Southwest, producers are now anxiously waiting for rain.
The Saskatchewan Agriculture Crop Report for the period of May 30 to June 5 reports that 98 per cent of the crop has been seeded, slightly ahead of the five-year average of 96 per cent completed.
And while the report notes that some areas of the Southwest are drier than others, specific areas will need a significant rain soon to help crops germinate and emerge. There are growing concerns that crop and hay yields will be severely impacted if precipitation does not arrive within the coming weeks.
In addition, strong winds continue to dry up and deteriorate topsoil moisture conditions throughout the Southwest.
“Crops are very slow to emerge, patchy in growth and very much behind their normal developmental stage for this time of year,” the Crop Report notes while commenting on details in the Southwest. “Persistent strong winds have blown soil around and dried up fields. Many crops are at a standstill in the field and producers are considering delaying in-crop herbicide applications due to lack of weed and crop growth. Flea beetles and cutworms are damaging crops in the region and some producers continue to spray for them as needed.”
Saskatchewan Agriculture is reporting that cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 64 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and five per cent very short in the Southwest. Hayland and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 49 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 12 per cent very short.
Specifically, Crop District 3BS (the Shaunavon and Ponteix region) is reporting that 24 per cent of cropland and 38 per cent of hay land and pasture are very short topsoil moisture.
Livestock producers across the region have indicated that some hay fields are stunted and prematurely heading out. Yields will likely be compromised without substantial rain in the coming weeks.
Province wide, a full 94 per cent of seeding work has been wrapped up, with totals right at the five-year average of 93 per cent. However, there is growing concern over the rapidly deteriorating topsoil moisture conditions across southern Saskatchewan.
Crop Staging Table
(Southwest percentages as of June 5)
Fall Cereals
Heading – 32%
Jointed – 31%
Shot blade – 22%
Tillering – 15%
Spring Cereals
Emerging – 62%
Tillering – 21%
Pre-emerging – 13%
Jointed – 4%
Flax
Emerging – 60%
Pre-emerging – 33%
Seedling – 6%
Stem Ext – 1%
Canola and Mustard
Emerging – 42%
Seedling – 31%
Pre-emerging – 21%
Rosette – 6%
Pulse Crops
Emerging – 58%
Vegetative – 26%
Pre-emerging – 15%
Flowering – 1%
