Spring seeding starts in Sask.

After a late start to spring, grain farmers are getting back out on the field this week to start spring seeding.

The first crop report of the year for the last week of April said the cold weather delayed the start of fieldwork but seeding has started in the south. Other producers are applying herbicide and fertilizer and will likely begin planting within the week.

Topsoil moisture conditions vary across the province, with the north and eastern regions reporting wet conditions while most of the south is very dry. Fortunately, 64 per cent of cropland is ranked as adequate for moisture while 20 per cent is dry and 10 per cent is very dry.

Recent high winds are drying up the soil quickly, but it is slow to warm up with snow and ice still visible on sloughs and ditches in the north.

Livestock producers deal with low hay supply, concern for water

The late spring means that livestock producers who were short on hay from last fall have had to start feeding grain while they wait for pastures to grow.

The low spring run-off in the south has also created some concern over sustaining water supplies for livestock.

Watch out for power lines

Producers are also reminded to be careful moving machinery around overhead power lines. Over the last week there were four reported cases of tractors hitting electrical equipment.