Seeding progress in Saskatchewan went from half-way done to three-quarters of the way through.

The provincial crop report, released Thursday, has seeding at 77 per cent complete, up from 56 per cent last week. It remains behind the 5-year average of 91 per cent and 10-year average of 89 per cent for this time of year.

Producers in the southeast are furthest ahead at 84 per cent seeded, then the southwest at 83 per cent, the northwest 80 per cent, the east-central 73 per cent, the west-central 71 per cent, and the northeast is at 68 per cent.

Pulse crops continue to lead other types in seeding progress — field peas are 92 per cent seeded, lentils 91 per cent, chickpeas 78 per cent, and soybeans 51 per cent. Durum (87 per cent) and spring wheat (84 per cent) are furthest ahead among cereal crops, followed by barley at 76 per cent and oats at 67 per cent. Triticale and canary seed are both 66 per cent. For oilseeds, mustard is 78 per cent followed by canola at 71 per cent and flax at 67 per cent. Perennial forages are at 49 per cent complete.

Crops Extension Specialist Meghan Rosso says producers are reporting good crop emergence, adding the majority are in good to excellent condition.

Lentils are rated in the best condition with 37 per cent of the crop rated excellent and 59 per cent good. Field peas are rated at 32 per cent excellent and 62 per cent good and chickpeas at 31 per cent excellent and 67 per cent good. Soybeans are rated at 95 per cent in excellent condition.

For cereal crops, winter wheat is estimated at 20 per cent excellent and 72 per cent good while fall rye is 15 per cent excellent and 77 per cent good. Durum is 32 per cent excellent and 63 per cent good followed by spring wheat at 26 per cent excellent and 65 per cent good. Triticale is rated at 33 per cent excellent and 60 per cent good, oats are 22 per cent excellent and 71 per cent good, barley is 28 per cent excellent and 66 per cent good and canary seed is 27 per cent excellent and 62 per cent good.

For oilseed crops, mustard is rated at 30 per cent excellent and 60 per cent good. Flax is 25 per cent excellent and 63 per cent good followed by canola at 24 per cent excellent and 63 per cent good.

The province continues to receive rain in varying amounts with the northern regions getting the most. The Sonningdale area recorded 45 mm, the Battlefords and Radisson areas 36 mm, and the Rose Valley area 33 mm.

Topsoil moisture has benefited from the consistent rain. Cropland topsoil moisture is three per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and eight per cent short. Hayland moisture is two per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. Pasture moisture is very similar with two per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 13 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Rosso says crop damage was minor with a few producers noting excessive water and light frost. There were reports of flea beetle and cutworm activity, with some producers taking control measures. Some regions have observed grasshoppers hatching but no current reports of crop damage.

Farmers anticipate seeding operations will wrap up next week if the weather permits. Producers are also busy moving cattle to pasture, spraying, rock picking and land rolling.

A region-by-region breakdown of the Crop Report can be found below.

Southeast

Producers are reporting that seeding is now 84 per cent complete. This is up 23 per cent from last week but still falls slightly behind the five-year average of 88 per cent.

Field peas are the furthest ahead at 98 per cent complete followed by lentils at 97 per cent and chickpeas at 77 per cent. For cereal crops, canary seed is 92 per cent, durum is 91 per cent, barley is 87 per cent, spring wheat is 85 per cent, oats are 84 per cent and triticale is 50 per cent complete. Oilseed progress is further behind at 83 per cent for canola and flax and 76 per cent for mustard. Soybeans are 65 per cent complete. Perennial forage is reported at 72 per cent seeding completion in the region.

Rain was variable this week with increased amounts reported for the south end of the region. The Radville area reported 44 mm in an isolated storm followed by the Carnduff area at 20 mm and the Bienfait area at 15 mm. Many other areas throughout the region received trace to minimal amounts of rainfall. Producers are hopeful for widespread rain following seeding completion to help support crop development.

Topsoil moisture conditions for cropland is reported at two per cent surplus, 89 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Hayland is reported at 81 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and one per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at 79 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Producers report good and uniform emergence within the region. Overall, crop conditions are rated as excellent to good for the majority of crops. A full summary of individual crop conditions for all regions can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table. Producers in the region are noting minor damage due to frost, wind and wildlife. Reports of flea beetles, cutworms, wireworms and grasshopper activity were indicated this week with some producers taking control measures.

As the week progresses, producers will be working to finish up seeding, moving remaining cattle to pasture, rock picking, land rolling and starting in-crop herbicide applications on earlier seeded crops.

Southwest

Producers within the region report that seeding is 83 per cent complete. This is up 19 per cent from last week’s reported completion but still behind the five-year average of 96 per cent.

Lentils are the furthest advanced within the region at 94 per cent complete. Field peas and chickpeas are both 87 per cent complete. For cereal crops, durum is 92 per cent, barley is 88 per cent, spring wheat is 86 per cent, oats are 77 per cent, triticale is 64 per cent and canary seed is 47 per cent complete. Oilseed progress is at 90 per cent for canola, 85 per cent for mustard and 82 per cent for flax. Perennial forage is reported at 44 per cent complete in the region.

Variable amounts of rain fell over the week with the highest recorded amount in the Shaunavon area at 36 mm. The Gouldtown and Limerick areas reported 33 mm and 31 mm respectively. Producers are hoping for additional rainfall over the coming weeks to help maintain moisture for crop development.

Topsoil moisture conditions remain adequate for the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at four per cent surplus, 90 per cent adequate and six per cent short. Hayland is reported at three per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate, eight per cent short and three per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at six per cent surplus, 82 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and three per cent very short.

Good crop emergence is reported within the region. Overall, crop conditions are rated as excellent to good. Producers in the region are noting frost and wind over the last week but with limited crop damage. Reports of flea beetles, cutworms, wireworms and grasshopper activity were indicated this week with some producers taking control measures. Producers anticipate that gophers will be a problem again this year but no damage has been reported yet.

As producers continue with seeding, they are also busy branding calves and moving cattle out to pasture. Pre-seed spraying continues along with in-crop applications beginning on the earlier seeded crops.

East-Central

Seeding progressed to 73 per cent within the region over the last week. This falls below the five-year average of 83 per cent but is up 19 per cent from last week’s report.

Lentils are the furthest advanced within the region at 96 per cent seeding completion followed by field peas at 94 per cent.

For cereal crops, spring wheat is 84 per cent, durum and barley are both 73 per cent, oats are 52 per cent and canary seed is 40 per cent complete. Oilseed seeding progress is 64 per cent for canola, 52 per cent for flax and 34 per cent for mustard. Soybeans are 37 per cent complete. Perennial forage is reported at 53 per cent seeding completion in the region.

Rainfall amounts varied across the region. The highest amount reported was in the Wadena area at 33 mm followed by the Pelly area at 30 mm. The Hyas area reported 26 mm and the Roblin area reported 16 mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions remain adequate for the region but hayland and pasture have been reduced compared to moisture conditions reported last week. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at four per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate and 15 per cent short. Hayland is reported at two per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate and 32 per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at one per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate and 35 per cent short.

Producers report that crops are looking good as they emerge, but cooler weather has slowed development. Overall, crop conditions are rated as excellent to good. A full summary of individual crop conditions for the region can be viewed in the attached crop conditions table. Producers in the region are noting minor frost damage to crops and some isolated areas with excess moisture. Reports of cutworms, wireworms and flea beetle activity were indicated this week but overall, only minor crop damage was reported.

As producers continue their seeding operations, they are also busy applying herbicides, moving cattle out to pasture and branding.

West-Central

Producers are reporting 71 per cent seeding completion within the region over the past week. This is up 24 per cent from last week and falls behind the five-year average of 97 per cent.

Field peas are the furthest advanced within the region at 91 per cent seeding completion followed by lentils at 85 per cent. Chickpeas are 25 per cent complete within the region. For cereal crops, spring wheat is 72 per cent, barley is 62 per cent, durum is 57 per cent, oats are 43 per cent and canary seed is 42 per cent complete. For oilseeds, both canola and mustard are 67 per cent seeded while flax is at 43 per cent. Perennial forage is reported at 29 per cent seeding completion in the region.

Rain fell throughout much of the region with the highest rainfall recorded in the Sonningdale area at 45 mm followed by the Battleford area at 36 mm. The Wilkie area received 29 mm and the Rosetown area received 23 mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions remain adequate for the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at one per cent surplus, 90 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Hayland is reported at one per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and thirteen per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at 84 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and two per cent very short.

Producers report good germination on the later seeded crops and good emergence on the earlier seeded crops. Overall, crop conditions are rated as excellent to good. Producers in the region are noting minor frost damage to crops. Reports of cutworms and flea beetle activity were indicated this week, but only minor crop damage is currently reported.

As producers continue with seeding, they are also busy moving cattle out to pasture, rock picking and applying herbicide.

Northeast

Continued rain throughout the region has delayed seeding operations again this week. Producers report 68 per cent seeding completion, up 20 per cent from last week’s report. This is behind the five-year average of 88 per cent.

Field peas are the furthest advanced within the region at 97 per cent complete, followed by lentils at 91 per cent. Chickpeas are 25 per cent complete within the region. For cereal crops, spring wheat is at 88 per cent, oats are 69 per cent, barley is 65 per cent, canary seed is 54 per cent and durum is 14 per cent complete. Oilseed seeding progress is 57 per cent complete for canola and 41 per cent for flax. Perennial forage is reported at 31 per cent seeding completion in the region.

Rain fell throughout the region over the past week, with the highest recorded amount falling in the Rose Valley region at 33 mm. The Garrick and Wakaw areas both received 30 mm followed by the Rosthern area at 28 mm. Producers are hoping for a break in moisture so they can continue with their seeding operations.

Topsoil moisture conditions remain good for the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at seven per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and one per cent short. Hayland is reported at two per cent surplus, 96 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at one per cent surplus, 96 per cent adequate and three per cent short.

Despite seeding delays and cooler temperatures, overall crop conditions are rated as excellent to good with a few crops reported as only in fair condition. Producers in the region are noting minor frost damage to crops and some areas with excessive moisture. Minor waterfowl crop damage was also reported. No insect activity was reported for the week.

Producers will be busy with seeding when the weather allows along with moving cattle out to pasture and herbicide applications.

Northwest

Producers are reporting 80 per cent seeding completion within the region over the past week. This is up 17 per cent from last week but still behind the five-year average of 92 per cent.

All of the mustard and canary seed crops are seeded within the region, while lentils and field peas nearly complete. Spring wheat is reported at 96 per cent complete followed by barley at 82 per cent, oats at 73 per cent, triticale at 50 per cent and durum at 47 per cent. Flax is reported at 83 per cent seeding completion followed by canola at 73 per cent. Perennial forage is reported at 27 per cent complete in the region.

Rain fell throughout the region over the past week with the highest recorded amount falling in the Radisson region at 36 mm. The North Battleford area received 31 mm followed by the Maidstone area at 30 mm and the St. Walburg area at 28 mm.

Topsoil moisture conditions remain good for the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is reported at three per cent surplus, 92 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Hayland is reported at 95 per cent adequate and five per cent short. Pasture topsoil moisture conditions are reported at 94 per cent adequate and six per cent short.

Overall crop conditions are rated as excellent to good within the region. Producers in the region are noting minor frost damage to crops and areas with excessive moisture. Minor wind damage to crops was also reported. Reports of cutworms and flea beetle activity were indicated this week but only minor crop damage has been reported.

As the weather allows, producers will continue to seed, apply herbicide and monitor emerging crops. Producers are also busy moving cattle to pasture.