PRECIPITATION SLOWS SEEDING OPERATIONS

Precipitation during the past week delayed seeding progress with just

three per cent of the 1999 crop now planted, according to Saskatchewan

Agriculture and Food's weekly crop report. This compares to 16 per

cent at this time last year.



Seeding progress is furthest advanced in the southern grainbelt, where

six per cent of the crop is planted. The southwest corner is

reporting 20 26 per cent seeded. Both the central and northern

grainbelts report one per cent seeded. Some early seeded crops are

reported to have sprouted.



The rain and snow alleviated poor soil moisture conditions in many

areas of the province. An average of 15 mm of precipitation was

received across the province, with heavier amounts received in drier

western areas.



Winter snowfall and spring precipitation improved stubble subsoil

moisture right across the province. Compared with the stubble subsoil

moisture conditions on November 1, some areas in the western third of

the province showed significant recharge. Generally, the eastern

two-thirds of the province has good to very good available subsoil

soil moisture. Exceptions include a small area east of Yorkton, some

small areas east of Prince Albert, and areas east of Swift Current.

The western third of the province generally shows fair to good

available soil moisture. Poor to fair subsoil moisture areas are

scattered throughout the western side of the grainbelt, but

concentrated in west central and northwest regions.



Topsoil moisture conditions on both cropland and hay and pasture

land improved with the precipitation of the past week. Last week

just over 20 per cent of reporters rated topsoil moisture

conditions on crop land as poor to fair, while this week, about

10 per cent report poor to fair conditions. On hay and pasture

land, last week, over 30 per cent reported poor to fair topsoil

moisture conditions, while this week, about 20 per cent report

poor to fair conditions.



Fall-seeded crops are generally rated fair to good across the

province. Some eastern locations report poor germination of

winter annuals from last fall, as well as drowning out in low-lying areas. Some western locations report winter-kill and

erosion problems on winter annuals.



Preseeding fieldwork continues, though it has been delayed by

rain. In some eastern locations, the winds have caused crusting

of the topsoil. Weeds are growing in most areas and control

measures are under way.



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For more information, contact:



Terry Karwandy

Agriculture Economist

Statistics Branch

Agriculture and Food

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5956