Saskatchewan few points short of wrapping up spring planting

Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — Farmers in Saskatchewan have virtually wrapped up their spring seeding for 2025, with the provincial agriculture department reporting the crops were 97 per cent planted as of June 2. That’s up nine points on the week, three ahead of this time last year and two above the five-year average.

The ag department said farmers were 99 per cent done planting in the southwest, west-central and northeast regions, while the northwest was at 98 per cent, with the southeast and east-central a bit further back at 95 per cent.

By crop, growers across the province were finished seeding their field peas, while spring wheat was at 99 per cent complete. Also in the upper 90’s are durum, barley, triticale, flax, canola, mustard, lentils. In the lower 90’s, oats and chickpeas. Further back were canary seed at 89 per cent complete, perennial forage at 77 per cent, and soybeans bringing up the rear at 74 per cent.

The crop report noted a lack of rain further reduced topsoil moisture levels. Saskatchewan was rated at one per cent surplus, 46 per cent adequate and 44 per cent short, and nine per cent very short.

Cereals

Despite the dryness, farmers have seen good crop emergence with some spottiness in their later planted crops. Provincewide among the spring cereals, durum was rated the best at 76 per cent good to excellent, followed by canary seed at 71 per cent. Next were barley at 67 per cent good to excellent, with spring wheat at 64 per cent, triticale at 62 per cent and oats at 61 per cent.

For winter cereals, the fall rye was at 64 per cent good to excellent and the winter wheat was at 58 per cent.

Oilseeds & Pulses

Among the oilseeds, soybeans topped the list at 85 per cent good to excellent, then flax at 74 per cent, mustard at 67 per cent and canola at 57 per cent.

Chickpeas led the pulses and all crop at 86 per cent good to excellent with lentils at 79 per cent and field peas at 75 per cent.

The report noted crop damage has been minor this year, but with several causes. Those included dryness, wind, heat, wildfires, insects and gophers.