Saskatchewan Seeding Lags Average

REGINA - May 20/10 - SNS -- Seeding of this year's crops made good progress in Saskatchewan last week, with the percentage planted advancing from 5% to 28% in the ground, according to the latest weekly crop progress report form Saskatchewan Agriculture.

This is well below the recent five year average of 56% planted by the middle of May and compares to 47% in the ground by this time last year and 56% seeded by the middle of May in 2008. Seeding is advancing more slowly than at any time during the previous five years.

The provincial agriculture department suggested progress would be more rapid this week as last week was "warm and sunny . . . for most of the province" allowing "some fields to dry. As a result, many producers are back to seeding and weed control."

Seeding this year's crops is 52% complete in the northwestern region, while in the northeastern region it is 10% complete, 32% in west-central, 13% in east-central, 38% in the southwest and 29% complete in the southeastern region.

Across the province, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 14% surplus, 83% adequate and 3% short. Topsoil moisture on hay land and pasture is rated as 4% surplus, 89% adequate and 7% short. Areas in the northeastern and east-central regions are reporting fields are still very wet.