Seeding Progress Limited in Canada

VANCOUVER - May 6/11 - SNS -- Pulse producers in western Canada made little progress seeding this year's crops during the week ending May 2, though growers in several areas expect to get busier in the coming week if they do not receive any more snow or rain.

The latest weekly crop progress report from Saskatchewan Agriculture found just under 1% of all crops have been planted, compared to 2% by this time last year. Lentils, field peas and cereals are being seeded in a few areas; however, the majority of Saskatchewan producers got a late start to field work due to excess moisture.

Last week, an unusually late snow storm dropped significant amounts of precipitation on parts of southeastern and east-central Saskatchewan. Areas in the southwest, west-central and northwest have dried up enough for producers to start field work. Many producers in these regions are expecting to start seeding operations within the week.

The majority of crop reporters are indicating that fields are still very wet, and many recorded precipitation last week. Across the province, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 59% surplus and 41% adequate.

Eastern Saskatchewan is the wettest, with virtually all farmers reporting excess moisture conditions, as are many growers through the center of the growing region. In the western half of the province and along the Alberta border, most farmers report adequate soil moisture conditions.