Seeding has begun in the southwest corner of the province, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s first weekly crop report of 2009.
A late spring, combined with cooler temperatures and precipitation, has delayed seeding in most other areas of the province. The northern and central regions are still one to two weeks away from the start of seeding.
Some crop districts in the western half of the province are in need of moisture. Most areas are reporting good winter snowfall, but not a lot of runoff.
Some crop districts reported significant rainfall this past week. Dugouts are filling in areas that were previously dry.
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As the harvest in southern Alberta presses on, a broker said that is one of the factors pulling feed prices lower in the region. Darcy Haley, vice-president of Ag Value Brokers in Lethbridge, added that lower cattle numbers in feedlots, plentiful amounts of grass for cattle to graze and a lacklustre export market also weighed on feed prices.
Eighteen per cent of cropland is reported as having surplus top soil moisture; 71 per cent is reported as having adequate moisture; and 11 per cent is reported as having low or very low moisture levels. Nine per cent of hay and pasture land is reported as having surplus top soil moisture; 76 per cent is reported as having adequate moisture; and 15 per cent is reported as having low or very low moisture levels.
Crop reporters indicate that producers have spent the last several weeks picking rocks, readying machinery, cleaning grain, controlling winter annuals, calving, obtaining crop inputs and attending auction sales.
