Seeding ahead of schedule in Saskatchewan, but rain required

Seeding in Saskatchewan is well ahead of the five-year average, but a lack of moisture could affect the crops that already are in the ground.

In the weekly crop report, the Ministry of Agriculture said seeding had increased from nine per cent last week to 38 per cent this week. The five-year average for this time of year was 22 per cent.

Producers in the southwest area of the province were the furthest ahead, with 56 per cent of their seeding completed. Farmers in the southeast (44 per cent), west-central (35 per cent), northwest (34 per cent), east-central (24 per cent) and northeast (22 per cent) regions also were making progress.

However, the ministry noted the development of crops that already have been seeded is being hampered by cool temperatures and low levels of soil moisture.

“Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 31 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 23 per cent very short,” the report said. “Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as zero per cent surplus, 22 per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 32 per cent very short.”

There was rain in some regions over the past week — the area around Admiral got 25 millimetres of precipitation, while the Shaunavon and Rockglen areas got 20 mm — but there was little to no precipitation in other regions.

The ministry also noted some farmers have opted to postpone further seeding until they get rain.