EAST-CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN — Producers were able to make minimal seeding progress this past week in the East-Central Saskatchewan crop region due to blanket rainfall across the region. The region currently has 13 per cent of the 2022 crop in the ground, this is well behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 34 per cent.
Fifty-three per cent of the lentil acres, 44 per cent of the durum, 41 per cent of the field peas, 15 per cent of the spring wheat and seven per cent of the canola has been seeded to date.
The region received very high amounts of precipitation this past week from which has stalled any further seeding progress for the time being. The Melville area received 86 mm, the Foam Lake and Wynyard areas 80 mm, the Jedburgh area 50 mm and the Earl Grey and Bulyea areas 42 mm. Fields are extremely wet and there is a lot of water sitting in low laying areas.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 24 per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, two per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as eleven per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, eleven per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pastures have been very slow to green up this week with the cool rainy weather.
Provincial overview: Rainfall hampers some
Large amounts of rainfall are generally improving topsoil moisture and pasture conditions in the province, while also delaying seeding, particularly in the eastern half of the province. Producers who have been able to get in the field are making good progress, with 33 per cent of the 2022 crop now in the ground. As this is behind the five-year average (2017-2021) of 53 per cent, producers are hoping for some warm days to allow field work to advance.
Sixty per cent of the crop has been seeded in the southwest region, 53 per cent in the west central, 35 per cent in the northwest, 17 per cent in the southeast, 13 per cent in the east central and eight per cent in the northeast. Fifty-nine per cent of lentils, 57 per cent of field peas, 51 per cent of durum, 29 per cent of spring wheat and 27 per cent of barley have been seeded to date. Barley, peas and lentils have begun sprouting throughout the southwest and west central regions.
A significant weather system moved across the province in the latter half of the week, bringing lots of rainfall in some areas. The Estevan area reported more than 120 mm over two days, the Weyburn area 92 mm, the Big Beaver area 87 mm, the Moosomin area 75 mm and the Eyebrow area 35 mm. Many parts of the southwest, west central and northwest did not receive significant amounts rainfall and rain would be appreciated once seeding concludes.
With almost weekly rainfall events, topsoil moisture conditions continue to improve for the province. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. Hay and pastureland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Pasturelands that have received moisture all spring are beginning to see good recovery from the 2021 drought and their carrying capacity of cattle is increasing.
