By Alice McFarlane

Seeding virtually complete in Saskatchewan

Jun 16, 2022 | 2:37 PM

MELFORT, Sask. — Producers were able to wrap up most of their seeding over the past week with 98 per cent of the crop now in the ground.

There is still some seeding to be done in the east half of the province where small portions of fields were too wet to seed. With recent rain in the region, these areas will likely go unseeded this season.

The most rain was received north of Rosetown where over 125 mm was recorded Monday night. The area experienced some flooding but most of the water was able to soak in.

The Biggar area received 69 mm, the Dinsmore area 65 mm, the Bienfait and Rhein areas 41 mm, the Duck Lake area 34 mm and the Tyner and Bruno areas 25 mm.

Hay and pastureland is rated as six per cent surplus, 61 per cent adequate, 24 per cent short and nine per cent very short.

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Grassland and pasture conditions have improved, according to Arnold Balicki, the chair of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association.

The Shellbrook area producer said pastures started out in poor condition this spring.

“It was too cold for too long,” Balicki said. “I think we overgrazed last year so there weren’t the energy reserves for the plants to really pop up this spring. Once we started getting the odd little rain the grass started coming along and now our moisture is adequate.”

Balicki said he is happy with the moisture right now, especially compared to last year. The driest part of the province also received rain.

“I talked to a friend in the southwest corner, and they had one and a half inches one time and four tenths another time. I think the drought areas are getting the moisture, so I think maybe most of the province is in pretty good shape,” Balicki said.

When people look at the eastern part of the province, Balicki said they’ve got way too much moisture.

“I have friends there who just finished seeding, when they’re normally done seeding on the 10th of May, so it goes from one extreme to the other,” he said.

Some areas received hail over the past week, damage is currently unknown since many crops have not yet emerged, but enough hail was received to make it appear as if it had snowed.

Crop conditions across the province mostly range from fair to good. Producers have wrapped up some of their reseeding operations and are now turning their focus back to spraying to keep pests under control.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW