WEYBURN - Recent rains this past week have replenished soil moisture levels but stalled seeding progress for producers in the southeast. Currently, 18 per cent of the crop is in the ground. The region is behind the five-year average 51 per cent. Producers are ready to get into the fields once wet spots dry up and conditions are appropriate.
Lentils and field peas are furthest along in seeding at 42 and 39 per cent respectively. Durum is 26 per cent seeded, while spring wheat, barley, oats and canola are all 16 per cent seeded. Finally, soybeans are 7 per cent seeded.
The Bienfait and Estevan areas received a significant amount of rain this past week, reporting 78 mm. The Moosomin area also received rain this past week, recording 46 mm. Wolseley and the surrounding area received five mm of rain while other parts of the southeast received trace amounts.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent surplus, 79 per cent is adequate and 2 per cent is short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 4 per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate, 7 per cent short and 1 per cent very short.
Many producers are waiting for conditions to improve enough to allow seeding to continue. Cattle are being moved out to pasture for the spring, with many anticipating community pastures will open soon.
