News Agronomy
Wet conditions hold Manitoba seeding back, dry conditions could hinder Alberta emergence: Crop report

All three prairie provinces have made advances in seeding, despite an array of struggles. Manitoba remains the most behind in seeding due to excessively wet conditions; Alberta’s seeding has made strong progress but emergence in some areas is delayed due to dryness; Saskatchewan has faced a mix of both issues depending on the region.

Manitoba

Manitoba’s seeding has continued to make progress. Although seeding for the week ended June 7 sits at 65 per cent, still well behind the provincial average of 96 per cent, progress is up significantly from 40 per cent one week ago. The provincial report estimates that planting is about one month behind, although progress is also highly variable across regions. Challenges from previous weeks remain the same: a large number of wet areas causing ground too saturated for planting, rainy conditions making planting difficult and machinery stalling, getting stuck or having to take alternate routes.

The northwest and southwest regions have largely been spared from last week’s heavy rains, which allowed the regions to significantly increase their seeded acreage.

Producers switching between seeded crops has been the norm, according to the report, which has slowed some progress. Overall, the report stated, “growers are very mindful of picking their driest fields and seeding whatever was intended for that land as soon as they are able.”

Spring cereal seeding is at nearly 80 per cent complete in all regions, with the earliest seeded crops in the two- to three-leaf stage. Approximately 35 to 60 per cent of canola fields have been planted in all regions, with a large number of acres being floated on. Soybean crops have mostly been planted, and any further acres left to be planted will likely be switched to canola or wheat, with some growers choosing barley or oats as a greenfeed alternative. Soybean planting across the province sits between 70 to 80 per cent of the intended 1.3 million acres in Manitoba.

Saskatchewan

Progress in Saskatchewan remains variable between region; producers in the western half of the province are nearly wrapped up with seeding, while those in the east are experiencing similar rain- and moisture-related delays to those in Manitoba. In total, 76 per cent of the crop acres in Saskatchewan have been seeded for the week ending May 30, up from 52 per cent last week. The five-year average for the same period is 93 per cent.

The southwest region has made the most progress, with 97 per cent of the crop seeded. In the west central region, 95 per cent of the crop has been seeded. Northwest sits at 93 per cent. While the eastern regions are far behind, at 64 per cent (southeast), 60 per cent (northeast) and 50 per cent (east central), all eastern regions have now passed the 50 per cent mark. A large weather system covered much of the eastern part of the province, resulting in significant amounts of rain for those regions; some areas received as much as 92 mm.

Topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and 14 per cent very short. Overall, crop conditions range from good to fair across the province. Emergence has been reported to be slow in areas of the southwest and west central, where moisture is lacking.

Provincially, 96 per cent of the lentils and chickpeas, 93 per cent of the field peas, 91 per cent of the durum, 79 per cent of the canary seed, 75 per cent of the spring wheat, 69 per cent of the barley, 66 per cent of the canola, 65 per cent of the flax and 51 per cent of the oats have been seeded. |READ MORE

Alberta

For the week ending May 31, Alberta has officially surpassed its five-year average for seeding, with 94.8 per cent completion in all regions compared to a five-year average of 93.9 per cent. South and central regions are at more than 99 per cent complete. The following crops are at 99% seeding or greater:

• Spring wheat (south, central and northeast);
• Durum wheat (south and central);
• Canola (central);
• Dry peas (south, central, northeast, northwest);
• Mustard (south and central);
• Flax (south, central and northeast);
• Potatoes (south, central and northeast);
• Chickpeas (south and central);
• Lentils (south and central);
• Sugar beets (south);
• Spring triticale (south, central and northwest); and
• Corn (south and central).