Rainfall leaves some fields ‘saturated’ as seeding wraps up across Saskatchewan

Wet weather has been the story of the season so far for many Saskatchewan producers.

Late spring snowstorms and soggy conditions pushed back the start of seeding in many areas, while other regions were hit by flooding. Now, with seeding 99 per cent complete across the province, some farmers are reporting fields saturated with water due to recent rainfall.

Read more:

• Strychnine distribution begins after emergency use approved in parts of Saskatchewan
• Seeding 97 per cent complete in Sask., with east-central region furthest behind: Crop report
• Two more Texas screwworm infections found in animals far apart, USDA says

According to the latest crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, most parts of the province saw significant rainfall over the week ending on Monday.

“While these rains were welcomed in some areas, excessive precipitation in others has led to saturated fields. Combined with periodic high winds, these conditions have delayed in-crop spraying operations in several regions,” the ministry said in its report.

“Provincially, three per cent of normally-seeded acreage went unseeded this spring due to excess moisture. Of the seeded acres this spring, three per cent is flooded and unlikely to produce a crop. Similarly, three per cent of forage crops have excess moisture and are unlikely to produce a crop while two per cent of pastureland is not accessible or is unusable.”

The greatest rainfall in the week ending on Monday was reported in the Foam Lake area, where 110 millimetres of precipitation fell. The ministry said the Hillsborough area saw 77 mm, while Elfros and Lacadena each reported 68 mm of rain.

“Rainfall significantly increased topsoil moisture, with surplus conditions increasing in most areas,” the ministry added.

Topsoil moisture conditions included in the report reflected the issue. In cropland, moisture levels were rated as 20 per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate and three per cent short. In hayland, topsoil moisture levels were 15 per cent surplus, 77 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short. In pastures, topsoil moisture levels were sitting at 12 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short.

The cool and cloudy conditions that accompanied the rain over the past week also slowed crop development in some areas.

“While most crops are reported to be developing at a normal pace, a notable portion is behind the expected stages of development for this time of year,” the report noted.

Only one per cent of fall cereals, spring cereals, oilseeds, pulse crops and perennial forage were ahead of their normal development, the ministry reported. Meanwhile, 14 per cent of fall cereals, 34 per cent of spring cereals, 45 per cent of oilseeds, 22 per cent of pulses, 19 per cent of perennial forages and 26 per cent of annual forages were behind their normal development stages for this time of year.

“Five per cent of the forage crops may have yields significantly impacted, while five per cent of pastures may have reduced carrying capacity,” the ministry reported.

“In the coming weeks, producers are hoping for favourable weather conditions to support crop growth and allow for the completion of spraying operations.”

The only good news about the heavy rainfall was around livestock water supplies, the ministry noted, with 87 per cent of livestock water sources expected to remain adequate for the foreseeable future.

The agriculture ministry noted that producers who had unseeded acres as of June 20 due to the excess moisture may be eligible for a claim through the Saskatchewan Crop Insurance Corporation, adding that the deadline for those claims is on Thursday. Claims submitted after Thursday will incur a 25 per cent penalty up to $1,000, and no claims are accepted after July 3.

“Acres seeded to an uninsured crop after June 20 do not affect Unseeded Acreage claims,” the ministry noted.

“No liability is accepted for crops seeded after June 20. Greenfeed is an exception, with a seeding deadline of June 30.”