Seeding is advancing quickly in the province thanks to warm, dry weather. Producers now have 60 per cent of the provincial crop in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture for the week of May 16. The five-year (2012-2016) seeding average for this time of year is 65 per cent, and the ten-year average is 66 per cent.
A year ago, 81 per cent of the 2016 crop had been seeded thanks to warm and dry weather. Some areas of the province were in need of rain to help crops germinate and emerge. Two years ago at this time, 87 per cent of all crops were in the ground. In 2014 and 2012 only 64 per cent of crops were planted, while only 23 per cent was seeded in late May 2013.
At this time, it is estimated that five per cent of acres will not be seeded due to excess moisture. By area of the province, seeding is most advanced in the southeast, where producers have 80 per cent of the crop in the ground, the southwest has 76 per cent, the west-central region has 59 per cent, the east-central has 53 per cent, the northwest has 43 per cent and the northeast has 25 per cent of the crop in the ground.
Provincially, fall cereals are at 78 per cent normal crop development with 11 per cent behind and 11 per cent ahead of development. Spring cereals are at 52 per cent normal development, with two per cent ahead but 46 per cent behind in crop development. Oilseeds are at 48 per cent normal crop development but over half, 51 per cent, are behind and only one per cent is ahead of development. Pulse crops are more advanced at 65 per cent normal development, three per cent ahead and only 32 per cent behind.
