SOUTHEASTERN SASKATCHEWAN CROP REGION — Spring seeding across the Southeastern Crop Region region is nearly complete, some producers may go back and seed some low spots if they are able to access them before the seeding window closes. Rains were welcome the past week and for most of the region the crops, hayland and pastures are in good condition.
Good, consistent rainfall over the past several weeks has allowed the region to see an improvement in on-farm water supplies when compared to last year at this time. The Bienfait and Moosomin areas received 41 mm, the Tantallon area 33 mm and the Marquis area 18 mm. In some areas, hail accompanied the rain. Tuxford, Marquis and Grand Coulee received enough pea sized hail to blanket the ground. No major flooding was reported and the water was reported to have absorbed into the soil nicely where rains were more general.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate, six per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate, eight per cent short and one per cent very short.
In the southeast region, 55 per cent of the fall cereals, 38 per cent of the spring cereals, 35 per cent of the oilseed crops and 48 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. Due to a very wet spring, crops have been slow to develop in the region, however, with warm weather in the forecast they will catch up quickly.
Crop conditions range from good to fair in the region, with 70 per cent of the spring wheat, 70 per of the canola and 74 per cent of the lentils being in good condition at this time. Crop germination has been poor in low areas and producers hope that seedlings will emerge soon.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to minor flooding, insect pests (flea beetle and grasshoppers), frost and hail. Producers are busy spraying when they can and beginning to clean and store their seeding equipment until next year.
In the provincial overview, producers were able to wrap up most of the seeding operations in the province over the past week with 98 per cent of the crop now in the ground.
