By Alice McFarlane

Wet, cool weather delays seeding in Saskatchewan

May 12, 2022 | 3:15 PM

MELFORT, Sask. – Producers continue working in their fields seeding, harrowing, and spraying when the weather allows.

Just 14 per cent of crops are now seeded, up from one per cent last week and behind the five-year average of 23 per cent.

The southwest region has 34 per cent of their crop seeded, followed by 20 per cent in the west-central, seven per cent in the southeast, five per cent in the northwest, three per cent in the east-central and one per cent in the northeast.

Crops extension specialist Matt Struthers said any fields, especially in the eastern half of the province, are still too wet to seed.

“I would say a week to 10 days in some areas in the east, but the west is ready to go. There are still a few areas over there a little wet, but I’d say seven to 10 days in general,” Struthers said.

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Various amounts of precipitation were received across the province. It was that was badly needed in some areas that were too dry for proper germination. It will likely lead to longer delays in areas on the east side of the province where moisture is already high.

The most rain reported for the week of May 3 was in the Pelly area with 49 mm, followed by 46 mm in the Bienfait area. The Shaunavon region received 26 mm and the Hazenmore area received 18 mm.

Struthers said it was good to see the moisture especially in the southwest since much of the crop is already in the ground and moisture had been limited.

A farmer northeast of Fort Qu’Appelle said he’s still a few days away from getting into the field.

Thomas Logel is on a mixed grain and cattle farm with 20 quarter-sections of land. He grows canola, wheat, oats, and barley for silage.

“Hopefully, maybe, next week. We’re still working on our drill, but it is still quite wet here. There are people going around us but in my opinion it’s a little wet yet. Just going to be a later spring. Just the cards we’ve been dealt this year,” Logel said.

Hay and pastureland moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 56 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Logel said the increase in moisture will help pastures.

“Those pastures really need that rain this year for sure and hopefully they can get going and we have good grass this year because it’s been nip and tuck around here the last two years,” Logel said. “Last year was the first year actually I had to haul water for my beef herd. We haven’t had to haul water on this farm for all of my lifetime.”

The ministry is reminding farmers working in extremely dry areas, especially pastures, to ensure sparks or any other fire starter is controlled, and a water source is available.

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @farmnewsNOW