Crop Report for the Period May 25 to May 31, 2010

Saskatchewan farmers have made little seeding progress over last week, due to rain. Fifty-nine per cent of the crop is in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.  The five-year average for this time of year is 86 per cent complete.

The majority of the province is dealing with very wet soil conditions, making seeding operations difficult at best. Since the beginning of April, many areas in the province have received more than six inches of total precipitation, and some areas have received in excess of eight inches of precipitation. Seeding is 78 per cent complete in northwestern Saskatchewan, 66 per cent complete in southwestern and west-central Saskatchewan, 65 per cent complete in the southeast, 44 per cent complete in the northeast and 42 per cent complete in east-central Saskatchewan.

Topsoil moisture continues to increase, and the wet soil is creating problems in some parts of the province, particularly in the northeastern and east-central regions, where cropland topsoil moisture conditions are reported as 94 and 84 per cent surplus, respectively. Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 59 per cent surplus and 41 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture top soil moisture is rated as 28 per cent surplus, 71 per cent adequate and one per cent short.

Eighty per cent of spring cereals and oilseeds are behind normal in development. Seventy-seven per cent of the pulse crops and 37 per cent of the fall cereals are behind normal in development.

The majority of the crops that have emerged are in fair to good condition.

Crop damage is mostly attributed to flooding and frost. Frost damage was reported in the southern, west-central and northwestern regions with temperatures in some areas reaching -3C.

The region has approximately 65 per cent of the 2010 crop in the ground. The rain has halted seeding and weed control operations. The region reported receiving an average of 38 mm of rain. The Gainsborough area received 78 mm, the Moosomin area 75 mm, the Weyburn area 52 mm, Indian Head area 41 mm and the Radville and Ceylon areas 52 mm. Most areas received more than 30 mm of rain during the week. Since April 1, many areas have reported receiving well over 100 mm of rain, while other areas received over 175 mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as 60 per cent surplus and 40 per cent adequate. On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus and 81 per cent adequate. Crop district 2A is reporting 74 per cent of the crop land has surplus topsoil moisture.

Crops are emerging, but development is slow. Flooding is causing damage to emerging crops. Frost damage was reported in the Weyburn area.

Creeks are running higher now than during spring snow melt. Farmers are changing seeding plans. Many are reporting a week of dry weather is needed before equipment can enter the fields.  Hay land and pasture is in good condition.

Southwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 3ASW, 3AN, 3B and 4) 

Sixty-six per cent of the crop is seeded in the southwestern region, and some areas in the region have over 80 per cent seeded. Rain slowed any significant seeding progress in most areas during the week. The region received an average of 34 mm of rain. The Lisieux area received 51 mm, Spring Valley area 52 mm, Mankota area 47 mm, Rush Lake area 58 mm, Eastend 48 mm and the Maple Creek area 35 mm. Most areas recorded more than 30 mm of precipitation for the week.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 33 per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are nine per cent surplus, 87 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Crop districts 3ASW and 3AN are reporting 52 and 59 per cent of the crop land has surplus topsoil moisture.

Crops are emerging in some regions. Crop damage has been caused by floods and frost. Some low areas in the fields are drowned out. Frost was reported in the Lisieux, Rockglen, Shaunavon, Cadillac, Webb, Consul and Maple Creek areas. Crop conditions are difficult to rate, as most are just coming out of the ground or are just being seeded. Crop development is slow due to cold and wet weather. Farmers are controlling weeds when and where they can. There is a prediction of more chem-fallow in some areas due to the late seeding. Hay land and pasture are in good condition.

East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 5 and 6a)

Farmers in the region have 42 per cent of the crop in the ground. Saturated soil conditions and continuous rain have slowed seeding and other field operations in the entire region.  The region received an average of 37 mm during the week. The Langenburg area recorded 59 mm, the Rama area 62 mm and the Bradwell area 57 mm. Since April 1, the region has received between 109 to 260 mm of rain.

Topsoil moisture on cropland is reported as 84 per cent surplus and 16 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 56 per cent surplus and 44 per cent adequate. More than 90 per cent of the cropland in crop districts 5A and 5B have surplus topsoil moisture.

Floods are is causing crop damage. Frost occurred in the Ituna area. 

Crops are emerging, but are at risk from flooding. Some crops that are currently under water are not expected to recover. Farmers are predicting they will leave acres unseeded if current weather patterns continue for much longer. Crop reporters are indicating many producers in the region have not even started seeding. Seeding plans are changing. In the Jansen area, it is estimated that 10 to 15 per cent of most fields are not seeded due to wet areas. There are reports of canola seed being returned to the retailers. There were anhydrous ammonia shortages.  Most winter wheat and fall rye crops look good. It is still too early to predict crop conditions in most areas.

West-Central Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 6B and 7)

Sixty-six per cent of the region's crop is in the ground, essentially unchanged from last week. The region received an average of 45 mm of rain during the week. The Arelee area recorded 73 mm, the Rosetown and Harris areas 54 mm and the Sonningdale area 76 mm. Most areas reported receiving more than 35 mm of moisture for the week. Since April 1, the region has received between 100 to 255 mm of rain.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 39 per cent surplus and 61 per cent adequate. Pasture and hay land topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 32 per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate and one per cent short.

Floods and frost were the causes of most crop damage. Parts of crop districts 7A and 7B (Nether Hill, Herschel, Biggar, Tramping Lake, Kerrobert, Luseland, Scott and Battleford) received frost.

CD 6B is reporting saturated fields, and some farmers are two weeks behind in seeding. Crops are just starting to emerge and development is slow. Crops in some areas are stressed due to the wet and cold weather. Some farmers started work again on May 27, but rain on Friday shut down operations again. Weed control operations have been slowed due to rain, and many producers will be trying to control weeds in-crop. 

Northeastern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 8 and 9AE)

Thanks to rain and poor drying conditions throughout the week, seeding advanced only one per cent from the previous week. Forty-four per cent of the crop is now seeded. The region received on average 49 mm of rain. The Tisdale area received 62 mm, the Melfort area 64 mm, the Vonda area 56 mm and the Garrick area 133 mm. Since April 1, the region has received between 108 to 246 mm of rain.

Topsoil moisture continues to increase. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 94 per cent surplus and six per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 79 per cent surplus and 21 per cent adequate.

Crop damage is due to flooding. 

Farmers are doing what they can to get their crops seeded. Some are cultivating, if they can get into the field, to speed the drying process on stubble fields, seeding with a valmar and draining sloughs. In some areas, many of the emerging crops are under water. It is still too early to determine the condition of the crops that have emerged.  Farmers are worried as it is June and many have not started or are only one-third done seeding. Soils are saturated and unable to support equipment.

Northwestern Saskatchewan (Crop Districts 9AW and 9B)

The northwestern region received significant rain last week, slowing seeding progress. However, the region continues to lead the province in seeding progress, with 78 per cent of the 2010 crop in the ground. The region received an average of 47 mm of rain. The Hafford area received 74 mm, the Speers area 44 mm, the North Battleford area 69 mm and the Dorintosh area 30 mm. Since April 1, the region has received between 134 to 248 mm of rain.

Topsoil moisture conditions for cropland are 39 per cent surplus and 61 per cent adequate. Pasture and hay land conditions are six per cent surplus and 94 per cent adequate. 

The majority of crop damage was caused by floods and frost. Frost was reported in the Hafford, Medstead, Turtleford, St. Walburg, Barthel and Rapid View areas. Flea beetle damage was reported in the Dorintosh area.

Crops are emerging, but slow to develop due to the cool and wet weather. Frost damage is showing up on some of the alfalfa crops. Some farmers were able to get into the field on May 27, before the rain set in for the weekend. Some pea fields are nearly ready for spraying, but the ground is too wet to support equipment. It is still too early to evaluate crop conditions. The hay crop and pastures are looking promising. Some heat and sun would be good for everything.