MOISTURE DELAYING SEEDING

More spring moisture delayed seeding, harvesting, and field work this past week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food, and Rural Revitalization's weekly crop report.

Last week's rain and, in some cases, snow created surplus moisture on crop land, particularly in the southern part of the grainbelt. More than 80 per cent of south eastern farmers, almost 40 per cent of south western farmers, and one-third of east central farmers rate their crop land topsoil moisture as surplus. A return to warmer temperatures along with drying winds will help field work resume in these areas.

Farmers have seeded eight per cent of the 2003 crop, which is behind the five-year (1998-2002) average of 33 per cent. Last year about 13 per cent of the crop was seeded at this time.

Seeding is most advanced in the northeast where 16 per cent of the crop has been planted. Farmers have seeded 13 per cent of the crop in the northwest with all other regions reporting three to nine per cent of the crop now in the ground. Crops reported as being seeded include peas, spring wheat, lentils, grass, triticale, durum, barley, and canola.

Across the province, only six to seven per cent of the winter wheat and fall rye were reported as winterkilled. Farmers reported that damage came more from grasshoppers last fall than over-winter damage.

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For More Information, Contact:

Terry Karwandy Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306)787-5956 Email: tkarwandy@agr.gov.sk.ca