Seeding 2016 wrapping up in Saskatchewan

Ninety-eight percent of crops are in the ground, according to the Saskatchewan Agriculture Weekly Crop Report. 

This puts seeding for this time of year ahead of the last five years, where the average has been 89 percent.

Gainsborough-area farmer Lee Stanley had his seeding finished May 22. He said it’s the first time in several years they’ve been able to get everything planted. The region has had excessive rain in past years.

“It’s been a lot better this year than it has been for about five years around this corner. We’re very glad to be done in May and hopefully we’re not combining in November,” he said.

After experiencing a dry seeding period, Stanley is anticipating the summer to be hot and dry as well from what he’s heard from weather experts. Since they have a lot of sub-soil moisture, they’re set up well he added. They just need the wind to die off a bit so in-crop herbicide application can happen.

“We’re off and running. If it just gives us some good days and we get our herbicide on in time and watch for fungicides and stuff like that, we should be able to grow a good crop in this corner provided we don’t have another disaster.”

Warm weather has helped crop growth, but there are some areas in the north where rain is needed. 

Topsoil moisture on cropland is at an eight percent surplus, 81 percent adequate, nine percent short, and two percent very short.

Hay land and pasture topsoil is at a two percent surplus, 81 percent adequate, 14 percent short and two percent very short.   

Farmers are now working to finish up remaining seeding and are trying to control weeds and insects.  Flea beetles and cutworms have damaged crops in some areas.