West-central seeding catches up despite wind, rain
By Your Southwest Media Group
Seeding surged in west-central Saskatchewan in spite of wind and rain that kept farmers off the land.
They had 30 per cent of their fields planted as of May 18, up from 13 per cent the week before but well behind the five-year average of 63 per cent, according to the latest crop report from the provincial Agriculture Department.
Farmers in the region had planted 57 per cent of their peas, 50 per cent of their lentils, 37 per cent of the spring wheat, 31 per cent of the durum and 18 per cent of the canola, the report said.
Most areas received over an inch (25.4 millimetres) of rain, with 62 millimetres recorded in the Rural Municipality of Milden, 50 in the RM of Biggar, 49 in Fertile Valley, 46 in Lacadena, 43 in Marriott, 40 and 35 in Snipe Lake, 40 in Pleasant Valley, 39 in St. Andrews, 35 in the RM of Kindersley and 30 in the RM of Harris, a chart showed.
The rainfall improved topsoil moisture levels to four per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate, eight per cent short and two per cent very short in fields, and three per cent surplus, 87 per cent adequate, nine per cent short and one per cent very short in hay and pasture land.
Strong winds "and periods of mixed precipitation" occurred throughout Saskatchewan, the province-wide report said.
"Multiple areas reported rainfall while others experienced snow and flurries that considerably slowed down seeding progress," it said.
Farmers had seeded 29 per cent of their fields, an increase from 16 per cent the week before and behind the five-year average of 55 per cent.
Those in the southwest remained furthest ahead, at 55 per cent finished, with those in the southeast next at 41 per cent, west-central, 30 per cent; northwest, 16 per cent; east-central, 11 per cent; and northeast, three per cent.
Farmers were monitoring early seeded crops, "particularly after the low temperatures and frost last week," and many were gradually spraying weeds when weather allowed it, the report said.