Saskatchewan farmers pushed seeding progress to 80 per cent complete this week, up sharply from 52 per cent the week before, according to the provincial crop report.
Despite the jump, the province still trails its five-year average of 91 per cent and 10-year average of 92 per cent.
Progress was uneven across the province. The southwest led at 91 per cent complete, followed by the west-central at 90 per cent, the southeast at 87 per cent and the northwest at 86 per cent. The northeast and east-central regions made gains but remained the furthest behind at 67 per cent and 63 per cent, respectively.
Pulse crops led all categories in seeding completion. Field peas reached 96 per cent, lentils 94 per cent and chickpeas 78 per cent. Among cereals, durum hit 90 per cent and spring wheat 85 per cent, while barley reached 77 per cent. Canola stood at 73 per cent complete and flax at 71 per cent.
Crop conditions
Most emerged crops are in good to fair condition. Pulse crops showed the strongest ratings: field peas came in at 24 per cent excellent and 67 per cent good, lentils at 21 per cent excellent and 74 per cent good, and chickpeas at 21 per cent excellent and 75 per cent good.
Durum and spring wheat each rated 21 per cent excellent and 69 per cent good. Canola came in at 22 per cent excellent and 67 per cent good.
Moisture and weather
Topsoil moisture held relatively stable despite high temperatures and wind. For cropland, 82 per cent of the province sits at adequate moisture levels, with eight per cent surplus and nine per cent short. Hayland moisture was similar, with 78 per cent adequate and 14 per cent short. Pasture moisture showed 77 per cent adequate and 17 per cent short.
The highest rainfall totals this week came in the Piapot region at 60 millimetres, Luseland at 54 millimetres and Manitou Lake at 52 millimetres.
Crop damage this week came mainly from wind and heat. Minor insect pressure from flea beetles, cutworms and wireworms was reported across the province. Gopher damage ranged from minor to moderate in most regions, with none reported in the northeast.
Hot, windy conditions also delayed herbicide applications across the province, creating challenging spraying conditions for producers.
If weather holds, officials say seeding is expected to wrap up quickly in several regions in the coming days.
Producers with crop or livestock questions can call the Agriculture Knowledge Centre at 1-866-457-2377.
Read more: Sask. seeding pushes over half done, still behind average
