Saskatchewan farmers have seeded 73 per cent of the 2010 crop, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report, but the crops are showing signs of stress with the excess moisture that continued to fall in the past week. In the southeastern region approximately 75 per cent of the 2010 crop is in the ground, although that varies from 43 to 100 per cent seeded, depending on the crop district.
Brad Eggum, a farmer in the Halbrite area, is done seeding while Jack Goski, a farmer north of Cedoux, and Aaron Reich, a farmer northeast of Weyburn, have not finished seeding. Goski is 70 per cent complete and Reich has 40 per cent left to seed. Due to excessive moisture, Goski said, I would have liked to seed more flax and canola, but I won't get it in.
Crop damage is mostly attributed to flooding, according to the weekly crop report. Warm and sunny weather is needed as crops in some areas are showing signs of moisture stress and weeds are becoming an issue. There will be some acres lost to flooding. Goski told about his emerging crops, Where there is no water the crop is coming up. The (crop) that was seeded early has been drowned out, and with so much rain the crop will be patchy.
Crop development is variable as some producers started early while others are still trying to put some crop in the ground. Reich stated that there is very little flooding damage on his crops. Reich said, I seeded lentils in late April which is coming up and is looking good. Canola is mostly all out of the ground.
Crops have emerged, Eggum explained, Yes, mostly every (crop is emerging). With a few days of heat (the crops) will do reasonably well, if you overlook the drowned-out spots. On Eggum's 4,000 acres, he is short 200 to 250 acres that has been too wet to seed or has been flooded out.
Many producers in the province have struggled to get the 2010 crop in the ground due to rain. Excess moisture and flooding in many areas have left fields inaccessible to equipment.
According to the preliminary crop forecast released by the Canadian Wheat Board, the acres sown to wheat is the lowest in 40 years, and anywhere between eight to 12 million acres will go unseeded due to the rainfall. The situation is worst in Saskatchewan, said the CWB, where 27 per cent of the crop is still unseeded; normally at this time of year the seeding is entirely complete. The CWB is projecting seeded acres to wheat at 19.15 million acres, the lowest number of acres since 1971, and an 18-per-cent reduction from last year.
The southeast region received an average of 15 mm of moisture. The Pangman area received 14 mm, Radville had 11 mm and the Weyburn area received 7 mm.
The rain stopped on the weekend, allowing some farmers to get into the fields on Sunday and Monday. Recorded in the weekly crop report, so far this year, the region has received between 283 mm to 105 mm of rain.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as 56 per cent surplus and 44 per cent adequate. Crop district 1B and 2B are reporting 68 per cent of the cropland has surplus topsoil moisture.
On hay land and pasture, topsoil moisture is rated as 34 per cent surplus and 66 per cent adequate. Eggum said about pasture conditions, Generally it's very good; there will be great production and an excellent hay crop. Mosquitoes are rapidly increasing with all the moisture and they will be a problem.
According to the crop report, hay and pastures continue to look good. Reich said that pasture conditions are excellent because of all the rain. Goski said, Alfalfa (looks) great with all the moisture but it's getting too much. (This year) hay will be good for cattle guys.
Flea beetle damage was reported in the Stoughton and Indian Head areas. Eggum said, There is a certain amount (of root rot and leaf disease) with the saturated soil but with a little heat the crop (will) grow through those problems. Eggum had to re-seed 50 acres due to cutworm on canola.
Producers are trying to control weeds and roll pulses when the weather and the mud co-operate. Some farmers are planning to seed green-feed.
This year Eggum has seeded canola, soy bean, durum wheat and flax. Goski seeded peas, durum, canola and some flax and Reich seeded lentils and canola.
The southeast Saskatchewan crop conditions as of June 14, 2010, recorded in the crop report, winter wheat is 24 per cent excellent, 59 per cent good and 16 per cent fair. Fall rye is 39 per cent excellent and good and 22 per cent fair. Spring wheat is five per cent excellent, 42 per cent good, 40 per cent fair and 11 per cent poor.
Durum has been recorded as seven per cent excellent, 30 per cent good, 47 per cent fair, 14 per cent poor and two per cent very poor. Oat crops are five per cent excellent, 40 per cent good, 42 per cent fair, 12 per cent poor and one per cent very poor. Barley crops are four per cent excellent, 39 per cent good, 43 per cent fair, 12 per cent poor and two per cent very poor.
Flax crops are reported as six per cent excellent, 26 per cent good, 48 per cent fair, 18 per cent poor and two per cent very poor. Canola is six per cent excellent, 28 per cent good, 51 per cent fair and 15 per cent poor. Mustard is three per cent excellent, 40 per cent good and fair and 16 per cent poor.
Pea crops have been reported as 12 per cent excellent, 32 per cent good, 46 per cent fair, eight per cent poor and two per cent very poor. Lentil conditions are six per cent excellent, 21 per cent good, 58 per cent fair, 12 per cent poor and three per cent very poor.
Canaryseed crop conditions are rated as two per cent excellent, 26 per cent good, 60 per cent fair, 10 per cent poor and two per cent very poor. Chickpea crops were rated as zero per cent excellent, 22 per cent good and 78 per cent fair.
