THE BATTLEFORDS — Producers in the Northwestern Saskatchewan crop region have not been able to get into their fields yet, they are however getting their equipment ready and are expected to be in the field by next week. Some fertilizing is being done in preparation to seeding. Snow is slowly melting as nighttime temperatures drop below zero and warm day time temperatures have been infrequent.
There was a small amount of rain in the region, with the St. Walburg area receiving the most at three mm and the Lloydminster and Pierceland areas receiving two mm. These small rains will do little to delay seeding or to improve pasture conditions. Runoff was rated as 60 per cent normal and 40 per cent below normal.
Topsoil moisture for many fields in the region have improved. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as ten cent surplus, 62 per cent adequate 28 per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate 36 per cent short and three per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are rated as ten per cent good, 20 per cent fair, 36 per cent poor and 34 per cent very poor. Pastures will need to quickly improve since many producers are running low on feed supplies and will soon not be able to supplement their cattle with hay or grain feed.
As crop producers prep for seeding, livestock producers are finishing up with calving and will move their cattle to pasture once they area able. While grass growth is slow, water quality and quantity seem to have improved on pastureland due to good runoff in some areas. Rain will be needed to ensure water availability for livestock does not become an issue.
Provincial overview: seeding delayed
Cool temperatures and early spring snowstorms have delayed seeding for many producers across Saskatchewan. Currently, one per cent of the 2022 crop is now in the ground, well behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of five per cent. Once conditions are favourable, producers will be working very hard to get their fields seeded.
Very little precipitation was reported in the past week, which will allow fields to dry up enough for seeding to begin in regions where it was previously too wet. The most rain was reported in the Marengo area with 10 mm followed by the Marquis, Rockglen and Webb areas reporting five mm of rain. Although beneficial for pastures and hay land, farmers are hoping the rain will hold off until seeding can be completed.
Topsoil moisture for cropland, hay and pastureland is still less than ideal for proper seed germination and pasture growth. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 55 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and 14 per cent very short. Hay and pastureland are rated as two per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 17 per cent very short.
Spring runoff for the province has slightly improved compared to the runoff seen in 2021 and this has allowed dugouts, sloughs and other small water bodies to fill throughout many areas. Runoff was rated as five per cent above normal, 44 per cent average and 51 per cent below normal. This replenishment of water in dugouts is extremely important for livestock producers who have struggled with finding good quality water for their animals. Going into the warm summer months, timely rains will be needed to keep water quality and quantity at acceptable levels.
Livestock producers have also struggled to ration their available feed supplies through the winter until pastures are able to sustain grazing. Forage feed supplies are rated as 35 per cent adequate and 65 per cent inadequate, while feed grain supplies are rated as 55 per cent adequate and 45 per cent inadequate. Producers will need a good hay crop this year to replenish their feed supplies and ensure they have more than enough to feed their livestock next winter.
Pasture conditions across the province did not fare well throughout the drought of 2021 and they did not have the rain they needed in the fall for adequate regrowth before winter arrived, which has resulted in less than desirable pasture conditions to start the year. Pasture lands are rated as zero per cent excellent, 12 per cent good, 22 per cent fair, 37 per cent poor and 29 per cent very poor. Warm days with minimal wind are needed along with good rains to improve conditions and allow enough forage growth to support cattle throughout the summer.
There have been reports of winterkill on winter wheat, fall rye and other fall seeded crops; producers are busy assessing the damage and determining whether to reseed. The hardest-hit areas are in the southwest where snow cover was not adequate enough to protect the crop. Producers who are not able to seed are waiting for their fields to dry and preparing their equipment while others who can be in the field are spreading fertilizer and applying herbicides.
