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One year ago
Cold temperatures with significant moisture events delayed spring seeding. Seeding had just started in some areas in the southwest.
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In history
The provincial 20 year (1995 – 2014) average seeding progress for the last week in April is just under two per cent seeded. Six per cent was seeded within the first week in May.
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Saskatchewan farmers are in the field, seeding, harrowing and controlling weeds. Two per cent of the 2015 crop is in the ground. The five-year (2010-2014) average for this time of year is less than one per cent.
Producers in the southwest have been seeding for a couple of weeks already, and have seven per cent of the crop in. Some areas in the southwest are reporting 20 per cent seeded. Significant rain and snow over the weekend, particularly in areas of the central and northern regions, have delayed seeding and field work. Most producers are hoping to be in the field again at the start of next week.
The southeastern region has four per cent seeded. All other regions have very little, if any, crop in the ground to date.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 20 per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate and four per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 11 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate and nine per cent short.
Pasture conditions are rated as 12 per cent excellent, 53 per cent good, 26 per cent fair and nine per cent poor. Some pastures have excess moisture or are slow to green up.
Areas in the eastern regions are reporting excess moisture. Precipitation during the past week varied across the province, with some central regions reporting 75 mm. Areas in the north reported receiving up to 20 cm of snow. Weather has generally been good for spring calving.
East-Central Saskatchewan (Crop District 5 – Melville, Yorkton, Cupar, Kamsack, Foam Lake, Preeceville and Kelvington areas; Crop District 6A – Lumsden, Craik, Watrous and Clavet areas)
Cold temperatures and wet weather are delaying seeding in most of the east-central region. A large amount of water is lying in many fields, and there has been some localized flooding of secondary roads, which limits access to some areas. Crop reporters are indicating that general seeding may not begin for at least another week or more.
The region reported varying amounts of precipitation this week, ranging from nil to 75 mm in the Bradwell area. This area has also received the greatest amount of precipitation since April 1 (80 mm). The northern area of CD 6A received snow as well.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are reported as 44 per cent surplus and 56 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 30 per cent surplus and 70 per cent adequate. CD 6A is reporting that 61 per cent of cropland and 46 per cent of hay land and pasture have surplus topsoil moisture.
Pasture conditions are rated as five per cent excellent, 41 per cent good, 34 per cent fair, 17 per cent poor and three per cent very poor. Excess moisture and cool conditions are delaying pasture growth.
Farmers are busy working on equipment, controlling weeds, putting down anhydrous ammonia fertilizer and waiting to seed. There are a couple of reports of farmers picking up harvest from where they left off last fall.
