Seeding operations are winding down in Saskatchewan with nearly all producers reporting that the 2025 crop is in the ground.
Just in time for the seeding wrap-up, some much-needed rain fell over past week, alleviating concerns about declining topsoil moisture that have been echoed across the province recently. The southeast and east-central regions saw the largest amount of precipitation, with the Calder area reporting the most in the province at 36 millimetres (mm), followed closely by the Stockholm area at 35 mm, and Rocanville at 34mm.
Regions with minimal or insignificant rainfall are still facing pressures caused by insufficient topsoil moisture, with producers noting the looming prospect of serious crop damage as a result.
The sporadic rainfall levels failed to bring much change in topsoil moisture, largely remaining similar to the week prior, save for declining levels in some areas.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated at two per cent surplus, 44 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short, and 12 per cent very short. Producers report hayland moisture levels at 38 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short, and 21 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil is 29 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 26 per cent very short.
Crop development in the province varied considerably, driven in no small part by inconsistent or inadequate rainfall.
- Thirteen per cent of winter cereals are in the tillering stage, 20 per cent at stem elongation, 26 per cent at flag leaf, 36 per cent are heading and five per cent are in the dough stage.
- Nine per cent of spring cereals are at the pre-emergent stage with 47 per cent at the seedling stage, 38 per cent are tillering and six per cent in the stem elongation stage.
- Eight per cent of pulse crops are at the pre-emergent stage with 48 per cent at the seedling stage and 44 per cent reported at the vegetative stage of development.
- Eighteen per cent of canola and mustard are at the pre-emergent stage, with 67 per cent at the seedling stage and 15 per cent at the rosette stage.
- Eighteen per cent of the flax is at the pre-emergent stage with 68 per cent at the seedling stage and 14 per cent starting stem elongation.
Dry conditions, heat and wind are the primary sources of crop damage at this point in the growing season. However, producers reported only minor to moderate damage thus far. In additions to environmental factors, some minor damage has been reported due to frost and wildlife across the province. Flea beetle, grasshoppers, cutworms and pea leaf weevil are a continued nuisance, leading to minor to moderate crop damage in some regions.
Now that seeding operations have wrapped up, producers are moving on to applying in-crop herbicides, monitoring for insect and environmental damage, and ranchers are busy moving cattle and monitoring and repairing fences as needed.