STAT Communications Ag Market News

Seeding Pace Improves in Saskatchewan

REGINA - May 14/20 - SNS -- Planting of this year's crops picked up their pace during the past week in Saskatchewan, though overall progress remains well behind last year and the recent five and 10-year averages.

Progress was not broken down by crop, but judging from regional advances it seems likely that 27% of this year's intended lentil crop is now in the ground, compared to 31% of the peas, 30% of the chickpeas, 23% of the mustard seed and 13% of the intended canaryseed area.

In its latest crop progress report, Saskatchewan Agriculture said with improving weather and field conditions more farmers are seeding or planning to seed within the next week or two.

Growers in the southeastern part of the province have now planted 23% of all intended crops, compared to 14% in the west-central, 8% in the northwest, 7% in the east-central and 3% in the northeast.

Precipitation in the form of rain and snow this week delayed field work in some regions, but many of the farmers in these regions are already getting back into the field as conditions improve. Parts of the northern and eastern regions of the province received snow during the past week, whereas the southwest region received only small amounts of precipitation.

Moisture conditions did not change much between this week and the previous week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 5% surplus, 84% adequate and 11% short. Farmers have been able to make progress harvesting the 2019 crop in most regions. Cold temperatures throughout the province have prevented many farmers from spraying herbicides this week.

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