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Seeding almost wrapped up

Jun 9, 2016 | 12:00 PM

The end is in sight for farmers in the Prince Albert, Melfort and Shellbrook areas.

According to this week’s crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture, farmers in the Prince Albert and Melfort areas have 98 per cent of the crop in the ground, right on par with the provincial average. 

Farmers in the Shellbrook and Big River areas are only slightly behind at 97 per cent.

Farmers west of Prince Albert received little to no rain this past week. 

On the other hand, farmers in the Birch Hills area had up to 28 mm. The Garrick area received 11 mm.

For the northeast region, cropland topsoil moisture conditions are rated as 12 per cent surplus, 70 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and four per cent very short.

Cropland topsoil moisture in the northwest region is rated as 67 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.

There is also a bit of a divide between the two regions when it comes to hay land.

In the northeast, hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 80 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and one per cent very short.

Crop District 8A, which includes Hudson Bay, Melfort and Tisdale, reports that 23 per cent of cropland and 28 per cent of hay land and pasture remain short topsoil moisture.

Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture in the northwest region is rated as 50 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.

Farmers will be busy this week seeding, moving cattle, controlling weeds and scouring for insects.

 

nmaxwell@panow.com

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell