Saskatchewan Seeding Progress Limps Forward

VANCOUVER - Jun 16/11 - SNS -- Seeding of all crops inched forward during the past week in Saskatchewan, with 82% of all crops now planted, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report, up from 73% at this time last year, but below the 10-year average of 93% in the ground by the middle of June.

Rain and thunder showers were recorded for most of the province during the past week. Producers in the west central and northern regions are near seeding completion. Producers in the southern regions made some progress. However, the weather and field conditions continue to be very challenging.

The southeast is reporting 44% seeded, the southwest 82%, the east-central 86%, the west central 99%, the northeast 98% and the northwest is reporting 99% of the crop seeded.

Looking at the situation in western Canada and the current weather forecasts, the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) reckons 6.5 million acres of crops which farmers intended to seed this year will not be planted. This is down from around 10 million acres last year and does not include land which farmers intended to leave as summerfallow.

All crops will be affected. Looking at grains it handles, the CWB said it expects farmers to seed 20.35 of the 23.43 million acres of the total wheat they intended to grow this year.

Spring wheat area was expected to drop from an intended 17.78 million acres to an actual 15.92 million, while durum area drops from an intended 5.05 million to 4.01 million; and barley area drops from an intended 7.4 million to 6.66 million acres. The remaining 2.68 million acres of crop which go unseeded will be shared by canola, flax, peas, lentils, canaryseed, mustard and other crops.