Sask Farmers Rush To Plant The Crop

REGINA - May 5/16 - SNS -- Warm, dry weather allowed farmers in Saskatchewan to seed 15% of this year's intended crops, well above the recent five-year average of 4% sown by the beginning of May, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly Crop Report.

Seeding is most advanced in the southwest, where producers have 35% of the crop in the ground; compared to 18% in the southeast; 6% in the westcentral region; 3% in the northwest; 2% in the east-central region; and 1% in the northeast.

Provincially, 35% of the lentils have been seeded; 31% of the field peas; 26% of the mustard; 24% of the chickpeas; 22% of the durum; 15% of the soybeans; 11% of the barley; 9% of the flax; 8%% of the canola; 7% of the spring wheat and canaryseed and 6% of the oats.

Very little to no rain fell on the province last week, although parts of the southwest received about half an inch. Many parts of the south and west will need rain soon to help crops germinate and emerge. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 2% surplus, 78% adequate, 19% short and 1% very short.