Crop report shows planting continuing with uneven progress

Jun 03, 2022

The latest crop report from Saskatchewan shows that while there is progress being made by farmers, it's somewhat lopsided.

Currently, 76% of the crops this year have been seeded, which is a jump from last week's total of 52%. The week before that was at 33%, so it seems like farmers are keeping pace - though that is behind the five-year average of 93%.

However, different areas are showing different amounts of land seeded, all according to how much moisture they've gotten recently.

Provincial Crop Specialist Matthew Struthers explains just where that split is:

"Still a lot of work to do yet, mainly in the eastern half of the province, whereas on the western half there most producers have finished up or are close to being done."

Here in Saskatchewan, 96% of lentils and chickpeas, 93% of field peas, 91% of durum, 79% of canary seed, 75% of spring wheat, 69% of barley, 66% of canola, 65% of flax, and 51% of oats have been seeded to date.

Conditions for both cropland, hay, and pasture lands also seem to be doing well, with 72% of cropland at adequate or higher levels with hay and pasture land at 67% adequate or higher.

Of the crops that have been planted, some are poking out and doing well.

"Emergence has been reported in all regions of the province. It has been reported to be slow - in the west," said Struthers, "It's slow because of the drought conditions they're experiencing, and then it's slow in the east because of the excess moisture and just how wet and cold their soils are."

"Hopefully, with some warm days, that can improve, and then also with some wet days in the west that will also improve. But overall crop conditions range from good to fair across the province."

Farmers will now be moving to apply spray herbicides, and checking for potential pests as plants move into a vulnerable stage.

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