Seeding continues to progress in the province and producers now have 83 per cent of the 2013 crop in the ground, right in line with the five-year (2008-2012) average of 82 per cent seeded for this time of year.
Seventy-one per cent of the crop is seeded in the southeast; 90 per cent in the southwest; 84 per cent in the east-central area; 87 per cent in west-central and northeast areas; and 89 per cent in the northwest.
Provincially, producers have seeded 89 per cent of spring wheat, 87 per cent of field peas, 86 per cent of canola, 84 per cent of durum, 81 per cent of lentils, 76 per cent of barley, 67 per cent of oats, 54 per cent of flax, 43 per cent of mustard and chickpeas and 41 per cent of canary seed.
Continuous rainfall has delayed seeding in much of the southern portion of the province with the Radville and Coronach areas receiving more than four inches of rain in the past week.
Provincially, topsoil moisture on crop land is rated as 11 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and 16 per cent short.
Despite most emerged crops trailing behind their normal stages of development for this time of year, the majority of these crops are in good to excellent condition. Most crop damage this week was caused by flea beetle and cutworm damage in canola crops, excess moisture and wind.
Farmers are busy trying to finish seeding, controlling weeds and moving cattle to pasture.
