Only a few acres remain unseeded in the southeast, according to the latest crop report released by the provincial Ministry of Agriculture. Most producers in the region have wrapped up the seeding season with the exception of land reserved for chickpeas and perennial forage as conditions allow.
Local producers are reporting good conditions to start off the growing season, with timely rain falling in the past week. The southern half of the region saw less moisture than the north, with a few scattered showers.
Cropland topsoil moisture remains maintained, rated four percent surplus, 72 percent adequate, 21 percent short, and only three percent very short.
Similarly, hayland topsoil moisture was rated 72 percent adequate, 23 percent short, and five percent very short, and pasture topsoil moisture was rated one percent surplus, 70 percent adequate, 25 percent short, and four percent very short.
The stages of development reported within the region varies, depending on the amount of rain received. Most winter cereals are at the flag leaf stage at 37 percent, while 31 percent are in the tillering stage, 18 percent at stem elongation, and 14 percent heading.
The majority of spring cereals are at the seedling stage, followed by 32 percent tillering, 13 percent at the pre-emergent stage, and only seven percent starting stem elongation.
Over half of pulse crops are at the seedling stage at 59 percent, and 34 percent at the vegetative state of development. Only seven percent are in the pre-emergent stage.
As for canola and mustard, 65 percent of crops are at the seedling stage, followed by 22 percent in the pre-emergent stage, and 13 percent are at the rosette stage,
Finally, the vast majority of flax is at the seedling stage at 73 percent. 21 percent are at the pre-emergent stage while six percent are beginning stem elongation.
Only minor to moderate crop damage was reported in the area, mostly due to hot, dry, and windy conditions, with some areas reporting more severe damage than others. Minor crop damage was also observed resulting from frost and flooding. As the season continues, producers will monitor flea beetles and wildlife damage, however some minor to moderate damage has already been reported in some regions.
Producers will now move into applying in-crop applications as weather permits and continue to monitor crops.