Seeding in Sask. 93% near completion: Crop report

Crops can be seen in the Yorkton area in this file photo dated July 21, 2025. (Fruzsina De Cloedt/CTV News)

Saskatchewan farmers are nearing the end of seeding, with 93 per cent complete as of early this week.

According to the crop report for June 2 to 8, seeding progress is up from 80 per cent last week, but still below the five- and ten-year averages of 97 per cent for this time of year.

The west-central region is the furthest along at 98 per cent complete, followed closely by the southwest at 97 per cent.

Trailing those regions are the northwest at 95 per cent and the northeast at 92 per cent, while the east-central region continues to lag at 84 per cent despite recent gains.

Across the province, seeding is nearly finished for field peas, lentils, durum and spring wheat, while other cereals and oilseed crops are also making steady progress.

For cereals, the numbers were as follows:

• 97 per cent for durum;
• 96 per cent for spring wheat; 
• 91 per cent for barley;
• 71 per cent for triticale;
• 79 per cent for canary seed; and 
• 85 per cent for oats.

For pulse crops:

• 99 per cent for field peas;
• 96 per cent for lentils; and
• 87 per cent for chickpeas.

For Oilseed crops

• 75 per cent for mustard; 
• 93 per cent for canola; and 
• 86 per cent for flax. 

Seeding for perennial forage crops were 62 per cent complete.

Rain and moisture

The report also states there was a disparity in the amount of rainfall experienced by each region.

Some didn’t receive any at all, while the Calder area received 164 millimetres, the RM of Fertile Belt got 118 millimetres and the Langenburg region received 116 millimetres.

The report added that topsoil moisture conditions were relatively stable with some regions getting surplus moisture due to the rain.

The report described topsoil moisture conditions as follows:

• 13 per cent surplus; 
• 77 per cent adequate;
• Nine per cent short; and
• One per cent very short

Hayland topsoil moisture is described as:

• 10 per cent surplus;
• 77 per cent adequate; 
• 12 per cent short; and 
• One per cent very short

Pasture topsoil moisture is described as:

• Eight per cent surplus;
• 76 per cent adequate; 
• 14 per cent short; and 
• Two per cent very short

Stages of crop development

The report said 36 per cent of winter cereals have entered the tillering stage, with 23 per cent at stem elongation, 17 per cent at flag leaf and 24 per cent are in the heading stage.

Twenty-three per cent of spring cereals are at the pre-emergent stage, with 54 per cent at the seedling stage. Additionally, 22 per cent are tillering and one per cent have entered the stem elongation stage.

For pulse crops, 13 per cent are in the pre-emergent stage while 65 per cent are at the seedling stage. Five per cent are in the rosette stage.

Thirty-five per cent of canola and mustard crops are at the pre-emergent stage and 60 per cent are at the seedling stage. As with the pulse crops, five per cent are at the rosette stage.

Lastly, 35 per cent of flax seeds are at the pre-emergent stage with 63 per cent entering the seedling stage. Two per cent of flax have began the stem elongation stage.

“Crop damage this week was caused by multiple factors including wind, flooding and hail. Minor damage from insects like flea beetles and cutworms was reported. Gopher damage was reported in all regions except the northeast,” read the report.

“As seeding starts to wrap up in many regions producers are focused on in-crop herbicide applications and scouting for insects and disease.”