About 99 per cent of Saskatchewan’s 2009 crop is in the ground, making seeding “virtually complete,” according to the province’s crop report.
The precipitation some parts of the province got last week has improved its average topsoil moisture situation overall, the province’s ag ministry said in its report Thursday. Cropland topsoil moisture is now rated at 66 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and six per cent very short.
Hayland and pasture moisture conditions are reported as 56 per cent adequate, 32 per cent short and 12 per cent very short, the province said. Very little precipitation fell in the west-central and northwestern regions of the province where crops, hayland and pastures are most in need of moisture.
Some crops, meanwhile, are also showing signs of stress from the frost that hit most of the province last week. There have been reports of canola and flax being reseeded.
Provincewide, 19 per cent of spring cereals have yet to emerge, 64 per cent have emerged and 15 per cent have reached the tillering stage, the ministry reported. Among fall-seeded crops, 53 per cent are in the tillering stage, 22 per cent are in the jointing stage, 16 per cent are in the shot-blade stage and seven per cent are in the heading stage.
Out of Saskatchewan’s canola and mustard acres, 23 per cent have yet to emerge, 48 per cent have emerged and 24 per cent have reached the seedling stage, the province said. Eight per cent of the pea crop has yet to emerge, 59 per cent has emerged and 33 per cent is developing leaves.
