Southwest still leads province in seeding operations

Southwest producers nearly doubled their seeding progress this past week according to the Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report for the period of May 13 to 19.

A reported 39 per cent of the crop has been seeded in the Southwest, an increase from 20 per cent just a week ago. The Southwest is 10 per cent more advanced in seeding operations than any other region in the province, and well ahead of the provincial average of 22 per cent. The five-year average for this time of year is 29 per cent.

The West Central region has 29 per cent of fields seeded, the Southeast is third at 19 per cent, followed by the Northwest at 17 per cent, the East Central region at 12 per cent, while just nine per cent of seeding is complete in the Northeast.

Provincially, 49 per cent of field peas have been seeded; 41 per cent of lentils; 32 per cent of durum; 20 per cent of spring wheat; 18 per cent of canola; 17 per cent of mustard; 10 per cent of barley; seven per cent of chickpeas; six per cent of flax; five per cent of oats and canary seed; and one per cent of soybeans. Precipitation varied across the province with some northwestern areas receiving 48 millimetres. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 20 per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate and two per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 11 per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and four per cent short.