Seeding has begun in Saskatchewan with farmers slowly making their way into the field reported Saskatchewan Agriculture. Producers in the districts around Assiniboia have been out on the fields for the past two weeks.
Adverse weather has delayed spring field work, such as applying herbicide, harrowing and seeding in some areas. Many fields remain wet. Warm and dry weather will be needed in the coming weeks before seeding can get fully under way.
The majority of producers with crop from last year still in the field have so far been unable to finish harvesting due to cool weather, wet field conditions and lodged crops. It is estimated that approximately one million acres of the 2016 crop remains in the field, with the majority being in the west-central and northeastern regions of the province. There was little harvest activity over the winter months in these areas, and spring progress has been very limited.
The majority of winter cereals came through the winter in good shape. However, there are reports that some fields have winterkill damage. Although the southwestern region was able to get the bulk of the crop off last fall, some fields remain unharvested. There are reports of sick cattle due to the cool and wet weather. Farmers in the region are busy seeding, working fields, calving and controlling weeds.
In southeastern Saskatchewan, seeding has begun in some areas close to the U.S. border, but wet field conditions in much of the region are delaying field work. Three per cent of the crop is now in the ground, compared to the five-year (2012-2016) average of seven per cent for this time of year. In east-central Saskatchewan, producers are slow to get into the field due to cool and wet weather. A few fields have been seeded. In west-central Saskatchewan producers are struggling with wet field conditions. Cool and wet weather has not only delayed field work, but also the harvesting of last year’s crop. In northeastern Saskatchewan, the recent cold and wet weather has prevented many producers from entering the field.
Combining of last year’s crop has been very slow and little progress was made over the winter months. Fields remain saturated in most areas and equipment is leaving deep ruts. In northwestern Saskatchewan, most producers are not expecting to begin seeding operations until the weather improves. Fields are very wet and the region has received a large amount of both rain and snow over the last month. The ground is still frozen in the most northernly parts of the region.
