Despite recent cool and wet weather, good seeding progress was made for much of the province this past week. Saskatchewan Agriculture reported that 30 per cent of the 2017 crop is now in the ground as of May 15. This is on par with the five-year (2012-2016) seeding average for this time of year which is 33 per cent and the ten-year average which is 35 per cent. But one year ago, warm and dry weather in much of the province allowed for 51 per cent of the 2016 crop to be seeded. Many areas received moisture, helping to alleviate concerns of dry topsoil moisture conditions. In 2015, good weather and soil conditions allowed for 64 per cent of the crop to be seeded by mid-May, while in 2013 only eight per cent of all crops were seeded by this time.
Seeding is most advanced in the southeast, where producers have 60 per cent of the crop in the ground. Elsewhere in the province, 46 per cent is seeded in the southwest, 19 per cent in the east-central region, 16 per cent in the west-central region, eight per cent in the northwest and four per cent in the northeast.
Crops are emerging quickly and pastures are greening up. Some areas could use rain to help replenish topsoil moisture and help crops to emerge. Many producers have wrapped up harvesting of last year’s crop. Flax stubble continues to be burned in some areas. Farmers are busy seeding, working fields and controlling weeds in the southwest region.
