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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Saskatchewan harvest lags behind
At 12 per cent complete as of Aug. 25, harvest progress in Saskatchewan was well behind the five-year average of 25 per cent finished, the provincial agriculture department reported. Rain and thunderstorms hampered harvesting in some areas of Saskatchewan.
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.
