Saskatchewan May Not Finish Seeding

VANCOUVER - May 30/13 - SNS -- Seeding advanced at what may be a record pace in Saskatchewan during the previous week, with the overall pace of planting jumping to 67% complete, compared to the recent five-year average of 70% in the ground by the fourth week of May.

Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report noted that all regions of the province made significant headway: 67% of the crop is seeded in the southeast; 85% in the southwest; 51% in the northeast; 69% in the northwest; 60% in the east-central area; and 65% in the west-central area.

Seeding was temporarily halted in some regions over the weekend as the majority of the province received rainfall. The Coronach and Humboldt areas received the most rainfall with more than two inches. More rainfall events throughout the week and in the forecast for the coming weekend could further delayed seeding in large parts of southern Saskatchewan.

Provincially, topsoil moisture on cropland is rated as 13% surplus, 81% adequate and 6% short. The land with surplus moisture, in combination with pending rainfall events, is expected to make it impossible for farmers in Saskatchewan to finish planting this year's crops.

As it stands today, the provincial agriculture department thinks farmers in southeastern Saskatchewan will be unable to plant 7% of their intended acres for all crops due to excess moisture. In southwestern Saskatchewan, farmers may be unable to plant 2% of their land, compared to 5% in east-central crop districts, 10% in west-central areas, 9% in the northeast, and 7% in the northwest.