Crop Report May 4, 2008

 Saskatchewan farmers seeded four per cent of the 2008 crop, up from one per cent last week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report.

The five-year (2003-07) average is six per cent of the crop planted at this time. Currently, 10 per cent of the crop is planted in the southeast, nine per cent is planted in the southwest, two per cent is planted in east central regions, and less than one per cent is reported as planted elsewhere.

On a per crop basis, 18 per cent of the peas, nine per cent of the lentils, six per cent of the triticale and five per cent of the durum are reported planted at this time. All other crops are less than five per cent seeded.

According to crop reporters, topsoil moisture conditions are adequate on 70 per cent of the grainbelt, which is an improvement from last week. Areas of surplus moisture are decreasing in northern regions. Areas of short and very short topsoil moisture are decreasing in the southwest, but increasing in the southeast.

Strong winds and cool temperatures delayed spraying operations this past week.

 South eastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 1, 2, & 3ase)
Last week, the southeast was generally cool, dry, and windy.  An average of 1 mm of precipitation was reported, with an average high of 4 mm reported in CD 1a. The strong winds dried the topsoil to the point where some farmers have stopped seeding because it was getting too dry.  The winds and cool temperatures also hampered spraying. Many dugouts are dry and some farmers have to haul water for spraying.

Ten per cent of the crop has been seeded in the southeast. Crop District 3ase reports 15% seeded, while CD 1b reports 6% seeded. Forty-two per cent of the peas, 20% of the lentils, 12% of the spring wheat, and 8% of the canola have been planted.

In some areas, there is expected to be more wheat and canola seeded, and fewer acres of specialty crops.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land deteriorated this past week with reporters rating 38% of the area as having adequate topsoil moisture, compared to 59% last week. The balance is rated as having short or very short topsoil moisture. On hay and pasture land, moisture conditions also deteriorated with reporters rating 21% of the area as having adequate moisture, compared with 35% last week. The driest areas are in CDs 1a and 2.

Weed growth has been minimal due to the cold, dry weather.  This has hampered pre-seeding burn-off. Farmers continue to pick rocks and harrow.

Livestock owners are still feeding cattle, and are running low on feed. Grass growth in pastures is very slow due to lack of sunshine and rain. Some cattle are being moved out to pastures, but supplementary feeding will be needed for awhile.

South western Saskatchewan (CDs 3asw, 3an, 3b, & 4)
Some areas in the southwest received much needed moisture. An average of 14 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 8 mm reported in CD 4a, to an average high of 22 mm reported in CD 3bn. It has been difficult to do pre-seeding burn-off due to the winds and the freezing nights. The cool temperatures and frost has set back early-seeded crops, hay, and grass.

Nine per cent of the crop has been seeded in the southwest. Crop District 4a reports 27% seeded, while CD 3bn is 6% seeded. Twenty-seven per cent of the peas, 9% of the triticale, 8% of the lentils, and 7% of the durum, canola, and mustard have been planted. Some early-seeded peas are emerging.

In some areas, farmers are switching from peas to durum because of the long spell of cold weather.  Other areas expect to see more barley and durum. Precipitation received in some areas may reduce the amount of intended summerfallow.

Topsoil moisture on crop land improved with reporters rating moisture conditions as adequate on 55% of the crop land, compared to 36% last week. Topsoil moisture conditions on hay and pasture land also improved, with reporters rating 36% having adequate topsoil moisture conditions, compared with 21% last week. The driest areas are in CDs 3asw and 3bs.

Some cattle are being moved out to pastures, but feeding is still being supplemented with bales. Some livestock owners expect that they will be hauling water this summer.  Some are hauling water right now.

Gophers continue to be a problem with their holes causing equipment damage.

East central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 5 & 6a)
The east central region had cool, windy days with cold nights this past week. An average of 1 mm of precipitation was reported. Windy days hampered spraying operations.

Two per cent of the 2008 crop has been planted, with 2% planted in CDs 5b and 6a and 1% planted in CD 5a. Fourteen per cent of the peas, 3% of the lentils, and 1% of the canola, spring wheat, and barley are in.

Several comments were received on potential changes to seeding intentions. More peas are being planted, and oats acreage may increase. If the weather stays cool and dry, more cereals could be planted. Other possible changes in planting intentions are plans for less wheat and more barley; an increase in canola and wheat acres; slight shift to peas from lentils; and a shift from peas to lentils.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land deteriorated slightly from last week. Reporters rate 75% of the crop land as having adequate moisture, compared to 79% last week. On hay and pasture land, topsoil moisture conditions also deteriorated as reporters gave an adequate rating for 59% versus 74% last week.

There has been very little pasture growth, and livestock are still being feed from winter feed supplies. Some farmers were applying fertilizer, picking rocks, harrowing, cultivating, and rolling pulses.

West central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6b & 7)
The west central area had cool, windy days during the past week, with cold nights. An average of 15 mm of precipitation was reported, ranging from an average low of 9 mm reported in CD 6b to an average high of 18 mm reported in CD 7b. Low spots are very wet in some areas, and farmers still can not drive down back-roads in the Marengo area.

Less than 1% of the crop has been seeded in the west central region. Crops being planted include spring wheat, canola, and peas.

The moisture received during the past two weeks could allow for more pulses to be seeded. More barley also may be seeded in some areas.

Topsoil moisture on crop land improved, with reporters rating moisture as adequate on 97% of the land, compared with 79% last week. Topsoil moisture conditions on hay and pasture land also improved with reporters rating topsoil moisture as adequate on 94% of the area compared with 80% last week.

Farmers are working on machinery, picking rocks, placing fertilizer, applying herbicide, harrowing, cleaning grain, and cultivating.

Cattle are being moved out to pasture. Feed supplies are becoming very short. The snowstorm caused some calf losses in the region. There are a higher than usual number of gophers in the Tramping Lake area.

North eastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 8 & 9ae)
It was generally cool and dry in the northeast this past week. An average of less than 1 mm of precipitation was reported.

Less than1% of the crop has been planted. Lentils, peas, and spring wheat are being seeded.

Topsoil moisture conditions on crop land improved during the last week as the area of surplus moisture decreased. Reporters gave a surplus rating to 12% of the crop land, compared with 47% last week. On hay and pasture land, the amount of land in a surplus situation has decreased from 45% to 1%.

Work being done included fertilizing, heavy harrowing, rock picking, cultivating, and putting down fertilizer.  Fieldwork is expected to be more general this week.

North western Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 9aw & 9b)
The past week was cool in the northwest, though warming by the week's end.  An average of 2 mm of precipitation was reported, with the amounts up to 15 mm reported in the Neilburg area. Some side roads in the Glaslyn area are still blocked with snow.

Less than 1% of the crop has been seeded in the northwest. Peas have been seeded in CD 9aw. A week to 10 days of warm, dry weather is needed before fieldwork and seeding become general.

There were some expectations that more barley might be seeded than first thought.

Topsoil moisture on crop land improved during the past week as surplus moisture dried. Reporters rated moisture as surplus on 9% of the crop land versus 28% last week. On hay and pasture land, reporters say they have adequate moisture on 94% of the land, with the rest being under surplus moisture.

Farmers have started applying fertilizer and harrowing, and are continuing to pick rocks and poison gophers.

Farmers are still feeding cattle, and some are running short of hay.  Some livestock producers are dealing with scouring calves after last week's stormy weather.