Seeding to begin shortly across Saskatchewan
-
Share on Facebook
-
Share on Twitter
- Copy Link
With winter firmly behind us, farmers in Saskatchewan are now beginning the early phases of seeding.
According to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s first crop report of the year, province-wide only three per cent of the 2016 crop has been seeded, compared to the five-year average of less than one per cent. Most of the progress so far has been in the southern portions of the province, with work just beginning in the west central and northwest regions.
Currently in the northwest, cool conditions have delayed field work with widespread seeding not likely to begin for another couple weeks. Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as two per cent surplus, 97 per cent adequate, and one per cent short. Meanwhile hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 86 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and seven per cent very short. At this point in the season, farmers are busy getting equipment ready, moving cattle, spreading fertilizer, and controlling weeds.
Further south in the west central region some producers have begun seeding however widespread work won’t begin for a couple of weeks. Some rain and snow was reported in the last week raining from trace amounts to approximately 27 mm in the Marengo area. Topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 73 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil is rated as three per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short, and 12 per cent very short.
