Saskatchewan’s first seed report for 2023 revealed seeding was delayed in the month of April due to cool weather and spring snowstorms. Fields had to warm up and dry out before work could begin. The provincial seeding progress of nine per cent is behind the five-year average (2018-2022) of 23 per cent. Seeding is furthest advanced in the southwest, west-central and northwest regions. Seeding progress is slower in the eastern regions where snowfall was heavier and water in fields is taking longer to disappear.
The northwest leads with seeding progress at 17 per cent, while the west central and southwest are at 14 and 13 per cent respectively. The northeast has seven per cent seeding complete, which is ahead of normal for this time of year. The southeast and east central regions have wetter fields than the rest of the province and both sit at three per cent seeded.
The most rainfall over the past week was recorded in the Marengo area with 35 mm. The Rockglen area received 10 mm and the Webb and Hazenmore areas received seven mm, and many more areas of the province received between one to five mm of rain over the week. Producers in the southwest and west central regions are already raising concerns about how dry their fields are and are hoping for a good soaking rain once the majority of seeding is finished.
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