The focus is shifting from seeding progress to topsoil moisture conditions in the Saskatchewan Agriculture weekly crop report.

More dry and windy weather has reduced provincial cropland topsoil moisture ratings to one per cent surplus, 46 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and nine per cent very short. The northeast remains the driest region with only 22 per cent of cropland with adequate topsoil moisture, 56 per cent short and 22 per cent very short.

Crop emergence is mostly good with some reports of spotty emergence in late seeded crops. Provincially, seven per cent of canola is in excellent condition, 50 per cent good and 35 per cent fair.

Ninety-seven per cent of the provincial crop has been seeded, with some late work still going on in southeast and east-central regions.

The region-by-region crop report is below:

Census Division 1 – Carnduff, Estevan, Lampman, Redvers and Stoughton areas
Census Division 2 – Avonlea, Fillmore, Minton, Radville and Weyburn areas
Census Division 5 – Broadview, Esterhazy, Melville and Moosomin areas
Census Division 6 – Belle Plaine, Cupar, Lumsden, Indian Head, Regina and Rouleau areas

Seeding is reported at 95 per cent complete within the region, up from 80 per cent last week. This is similar to the five-year average of 94 per cent reported in the southeast region.

Seeding is complete, or near completion, for many crops including field peas, lentils, spring wheat, durum and canary seed. Barley is reported at 96 per cent seeding completion. Canola is reported at 94 per cent complete, followed by oats and flax at 92 per cent each. Seeding completion for canary seed and soybeans are 90 per cent and 89 per cent, respectively. Chickpeas are 85 per cent complete while mustard is 84 per cent. The crops furthest behind are perennial forage crops at 59 per cent and triticale at 56 per cent complete.

Very little rain fell throughout the region last week with only a small amount reported in the Mount Pleasant area at three mm.

Topsoil moisture was again reduced within the region although most areas remain adequate. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at five per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate and 19 per cent short. Hayland topsoil moisture is seven per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and four per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 65 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and five per cent very short.

Overall, crop conditions are rated as good to excellent for the majority of crops with a few reports of crops that are in fair condition. A full summary of individual crop conditions for all regions can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table.

Producers in the region report minor to moderate crop damage due to wind. Some reports indicate there was minor damage due to excessive moisture. Increased crop damage is reported due to heat and dry conditions. Producers are continuing to monitor areas for grasshoppers, gophers and waterfowl, with some minor to moderate damage from flea beetles and cutworms.

As the week progresses, producers will be working to wrap up seeding and move into in-crop spraying when the weather allows along with land rolling, rock picking and getting the last of the animals out to pasture.

Census Division 3 – Assiniboia, Gravelbourg, Mankota, Ponteix and Rockglen areas
Census Division 4 – Cadillac, Consul, Eastend, Maple Creek and Val Marie areas
Census Division 7 – Beechy, Central Butte, Craik, Herbert, Hodgeville and Moose Jaw areas
Census Division 8 – Cabri, Elrose, Fox Valley, Leader, Swift Current and Tompkins areas

Seeding is reported at 99 per cent complete within the region, up from 95 per cent last week. This is slightly above the five-year average of 97 per cent.

Seeding is at or near completion for all crops. The only crop that is slightly behind is perennial forage at 96 per cent.

Only small amounts of rain fell throughout the region. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Reno area at nine mm. The Grassy Creek area received five mm followed by the Arlington area at three mm. The Hillsborough and Snipe Lake areas reported one mm for the week.

Windy and dry conditions within the region have significantly reduced topsoil moisture over the week. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at 44 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 30 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 15 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 22 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 23 per cent very short.

Most reports suggest good crop emergence is reported within the region with some exceptions for late seeded crops. Overall, crop conditions are rated as good to fair. A full summary of individual crop conditions for all regions can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table.

Overall, crop damage was reported as minor for the week with some reports indicating moderate to severe damage caused by wind, dry conditions and heat. Producers are continuing to monitor areas for flea beetles, grasshoppers and gophers with some reports of minor damage.

Producers within the region are working on in-crop spraying and land rolling when the weather allows. Cattle are continuing to be taken to pasture.

Census Division 12 – Biggar, Delisle, Rosetown and Sonningdale areas
Census Division 13 – Cut Knife, Kerrobert, Kindersley, Macklin, Plenty and Wilkie areas

Producers made good progress over the past week. The region is currently reporting 99 per cent seeding completion, up from 94 per cent last week and similar to the five-year average of 97 per cent.

Seeding is at or near completion for field peas, lentils, chickpeas, spring wheat, durum and triticale. Canola, flax and mustard are all at 99 per cent complete followed by barley and canary seed at 98 per cent. Oats are 96 per cent and soybeans are 75 per cent complete within the region. Perennial forage is reported at 82 per cent complete.

Rainfall was very limited throughout the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded was in the Buffalo area at seven mm followed by the Reford and Hillsdale areas both at two mm.

Limited rainfall within the region continues to reduce topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at one per cent surplus, 28 per cent adequate, 59 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 19 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 18 per cent adequate, 55 per cent short and 27 per cent very short.

Producers report good emergence on the earlier seeded crops with some spotty germination on the later seeded crops. Overall, crop conditions are rated as good to fair. A full summary of individual crop conditions for all regions can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table.

Overall, crop damage was reported as minor to moderate with a few reports of severe damage caused by wind, heat and dry conditions. Producers are continuing to monitor areas for flea beetles and cutworms.

As producers work to complete seeding, they are also busy starting in-crop spraying when the weather allows. Some producers are finishing moving cattle to pasture.

Census Division 9 – Calder, Canora, Pelly, Preeceville, Sheho and Yorkton areas
Census Division 10 – Foam Lake, Kelliher, Leroy, Raymore and Wadena areas
Census Division 11 – Davidson, Colonsay, Langham, Lanigan, Nokomis, Outlook and Saskatoon areas

Seeding progressed to 81 per cent within the region over the last week. This is above the five-year average of 70 per cent but is up 23 per cent from last week’s report.

Seeding is complete, or near completion, for field peas, lentils, spring wheat and flax. Barley is reported at 96 per cent complete followed by canola at 94 per cent. Durum is 89 per cent complete and oats are 88 per cent complete. Mustard and triticale are both reported at 75 per cent completion followed by soybeans and canary seed at 72 per cent each. The crop that is the furthest behind is chickpeas at 33 per cent. Seeding perennial forage crops is at 81 per cent complete.

Almost no rain fell throughout the region. The only recorded amount was one mm that fell in the Corman Park area.

Lack of rainfall within the region continues to reduce topsoil moisture conditions. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at 42 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 11 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 41 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 15 per cent very short.

Producers report that crops are looking good as they emerge, but hot and windy conditions have slowed development. Overall, crop conditions are rated as good to fair. A full summary of individual crop conditions for the region can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table.

Producers in the region report minor to moderate crop damage due to wind. Increased crop damage is reported due to heat and dry conditions. Producers are continuing to monitor areas for flea beetles, cutworms, grasshoppers, wireworms, alfalfa weevil, cabbage seed pod weevil, pea leaf weevil and root maggots. Reports of producers taking control measures for flea beetles were received.

As the week progresses, producers will continue seeding and will begin in-crop spraying operations when the weather allows. Producers continue to move remaining cattle out to pasture.

Census Division 14 – Choiceland, Hudson Bay, Kelvington, Melfort, and Nipawin areas
Census Division 15 – Cudworth, Humboldt, Kinistino, Prince Albert, Rosthern and St. Brieux areas

Producers were able to make good progress over the last week. Producers report 99 per cent seeding completion, up from 92 per cent reported last week. This is ahead of the five-year average of 95 per cent.

Seeding is complete, or near completion, for field peas, spring wheat, barley, oats and canola. Flax and canary seed are 94 per cent complete followed by durum at 89 per cent complete. Lentils are 78 per cent complete followed by mustard at 69 per cent seeding completion. Of the lower acreage crops for the region, triticale is reported at 50 per cent complete followed by chickpeas at 38 per cent and soybeans at 33 per cent. Perennial forage is reported at 83 per cent complete.

This week, no rainfall was reported anywhere in the region.

The lack of rainfall in the region has contributed to a continued reduction in topsoil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at 22 per cent adequate, 56 per cent short and 22 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 19 per cent adequate, 58 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is similar at 14 per cent adequate, 59 per cent short and 27 per cent very short.

Due to the lack of moisture, overall crop conditions are rated as fair to good with a few crops reported as in poor condition. A full summary of individual crop conditions for all regions can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table.

Producers in the region report minor to moderate crop damage due to wind and heat, with a number of reports indicating moderate to severe crop damage due to dry conditions. Minor to moderate crop damage is reported due to flea beetles with reports of some producers taking control measures within the region. Producers continue to monitor for cutworms.

When weather allows, producers are beginning in-crop herbicide applications and are continuing to monitor fields for pests while moving cattle out to pasture.

Census Division 16 – Blaine Lake, Canwood, North Battleford, Radisson and Spiritwood areas
Census Division 17 – Glaslyn, Maidstone, Meadow Lake, Pierceland and St. Walburg areas

Producers were able to progress in their seeding operations throughout the region over the past week. Currently, producers are reporting 98 per cent seeding completion, up from 93 per cent last week. This is ahead of the five-year average of 92 per cent.

Seeding is complete, or near completion, for almost all crops in the region. Oats are lagging behind slightly at 95 per cent complete. Perennial forage is reported at 70 per cent complete.

Rain fell in reduced amounts throughout the region this week. The highest reported rainfall was in the Eldon area at 11 mm followed by the Meadow Lake area at eight mm. The Mervin area received five mm and the Meota and Frenchman Butte areas each received three mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions within the region have again been reduced. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at 33 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 21 per cent adequate, 58 per cent short and 21 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is 19 per cent adequate, 58 per cent short and 23 per cent very short.

Overall crop conditions are rated as good to fair with some crops reported as being in poor condition within the region. A full summary of individual crop conditions for all regions can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table.

Producers in the region report minor to moderate crop damage due to wind and heat. Increased crop damage is being reported due to dry conditions. They are continuing to monitor areas for flea beetles that have caused minor to moderate crop damage within the region.

As weather allows, producers will continue with their seeding operations and begin in-crop herbicide applications. Throughout the week ahead, producers will be monitoring for insect pressure and moving cattle out to pasture.