SOUTHWESTERN SASKATCHEWAN CROP REGION — Rain and snowfall that passed through the region last week caused some minor delays. While it is a danger to crops like canola, it was still a welcome form of precipitation. Seventy-three per cent of the crop is now in the ground across the region, up from 60 per cent last week and just behind the five-year average (2017-2021) for this time of year. Crop emergence has been uneven and crops are slow to grow due to drought like conditions.
Many areas of the region received small amounts of welcome precipitation over the past week. The Gull Lake area received the most with 22 mm, the Shaunavon and Maple Creek areas 12.5 mm and the vanguard, Moose Jaw and Swift Current areas nine mm. More rain is desperately needed in the region to improve soil moisture of both cropland and pastures.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 59 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and 17 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 47 per cent adequate, 30 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Pasture conditions are rated as ten per cent excellent, eleven per cent good, 39 per cent fair and 18 per cent poor and 22 per cent very poor. It is reported that many community pastures in the region are not in good enough condition to sustain cattle and might become closed to grazing for the summer, causing producers to pull cattle back and continue to bale feed.
Overall, crop development is rated as normal for this time of year, despite an abnormally dry spring. However, without more rain crops will soon become stunted. Most of the crop damage this week was mainly caused by frost, which may cause some reseeding of canola and mustard. Gopher populations are reported to be very high and could be cause for concern once crops are up in fields.
Provincial overview: Still behind average
Seeding progress climbed throughout many regions in the past week, despite a storm that brought snow and rain to parts of the province. Fifty-two per cent of the 2022 crop is now seeded, up from 33 per cent last week. This is still behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 78 per cent for this time of year. The rainfall received over the past week in drier areas will help improve soil moisture conditions and establishment of early seeded crops.
The west central region is the farthest along with 81 per cent of the crop seeded. Seventy-six per cent of the crop is seeded in the northwest, 73 per cent seeded in the southwest, 44 per cent seeded in the southeast, 22 per cent seeded in the northeast and 21 per cent seeded in the east-central region of the province.
The east received significant amounts of precipitation. The Hudson Bay area reported 88 mm, the Jedburgh area 85 mm, the Rama area 83 mm, the Indian Head area 32 mm and the Biggar and Cando areas 11 mm. While rain is welcome in the eastern half of the province, many producers are eager to continue their seeding operations.
Soil moisture continues to improve across the province, mainly in the eastern regions where most of the spring precipitation was received. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 15 per cent surplus, 58 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and eleven per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are rated as 10 per cent excellent, 27 per cent good, 36 per cent fair, 16 per cent poor and 11 per cent very poor. Pastures in the western half of province are struggling to establish this spring due to very limited precipitation causing many livestock producers in the area to continue to feed cattle on farm.
Earlier seeded crops have started to emerge where moisture is sufficient, but cool weather over the past week has slowed development of many crops. In general, most crops are rated as normal for their development except for canola, which was rated as 67 per cent behind. This is likely due to the extremely dry conditions in the southwest and west central regions, delaying growth and the recent cool weather across the whole province. Most of the crop damage this week was due to minor flooding, light frosts, drought conditions and flea beetles. Producers continue to report that there is a shortage of farm equipment parts. There are also some reports of input and herbicide shortages throughout the province.
