Seeding operations are almost complete as 94 per cent of the crop is now in the ground, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report. This is slightly ahead of the five-year (2012-2016) seeding average of year of 93 per cent. While most producers in the province have wrapped up seeding, those in parts of the northern regions will need more time.
"Most of that progress came from the northern part of the province. Producers have been lucky enough to have some warm and windy weather up there to dry some of the moisture up," stated Shannon Friesen, a Cropping Management Specialist with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
With 98 per cent of the crop in the ground, seeding is essentially complete in the southeastern and southwestern regions. Ninety-six per cent is seeded in the east-central region; 95 per cent in the west-central region; 88 per cent in the northwest and 84 per cent in the northeast.
"What's left may or may not be seeded, all depending on if there is enough moisture or someone cross-mingles with a green feed later on."
Scattered rain showers throughout the week brought varying amounts of rain to the province. Most areas received trace-to-small amounts of rain, although some areas received larger amounts. A significant rain is needed in much of the province to help crops germinate and emerge and to replenish topsoil moisture.
"Even what we got last week seems to have disappeared quite quickly. Having very strong winds for weeks now has really dried up the topsoil, so crops aren't emerging as nicely as we would have hoped," said Friesen.
Source : Discoverestevan