Released on June 3, 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 -3 celcius.
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For more information, contact:
Grant McLean
Agriculture
Moose Jaw
Phone: 306-694-3592