According to the latest Saskatchewan crop report dated May 30, farmers We have made great progress in sowing seeds..
According to the report, sowing is 77% complete, below the five-year average of 91% and the 10-year average of 89%. Despite these figures, crop emergence is reported to be extremely good, and topsoil moisture has improved significantly over the past year.
The report highlights the differing progress across crops: peas and lentils lead the way with 92% and 91% sowing completion respectively, followed by chickpeas and soya beans at 78% and 51% respectively. Among cereals, spring wheat and barley are behind with 87% and 84% sowing completion respectively, and oats at 67%.
Tim Oleksin, a rancher and farmer from Prince Albert, Farmer Rapid Fire Thursdaythere has been a shift in the current situation. “To be honest, people are really considering adding a bit of fertilizer to get a response from the grass,” he said. “It’s an amazing start compared to the years of dismal past. We’re seeing beautiful grass, not just in the north, but across the broad prairies. It’s an amazing change for a lot of people who haven’t had hope for a long time.”
Echoing these sentiments, Jocelyn Wasco, a rancher in Saskatchewan’s East End, tweeted a photo of her rain-soaked fields celebrating the return of greenery. “It’s been years since the East End has been this green,” she said, reflecting a sense of relief among local farmers.
The joy of this is indescribable. May I say that it replenishes the moisture in the lower layers of the soil? pic.twitter.com/eOBtPzEheh
— Jocelyn Wasko (@JocWasko) May 30, 2024
But the need for more heating remains critical. So far, the relatively cool weather has prevented farmers from fully benefiting from improved moisture levels. “We need heating now,” Olekshin says. “Warmth will not only help crops grow better, but it will also help grass grow. We’re off to a much better start in 2024 than we thought six months ago.”
