By Nigel Maxwell

Mother nature lends farmers a hand

May 17, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Saskatchewan farmers made some good progress in the fields this past week thanks to some warm, dry weather.

According to this week’s crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture, 35 per cent of the provincial crop is now in the ground, a significant jump from nine per cent last week. Ministry Spokesperson Daphne Cruise said there is a renewed sense of optimism.

“Basically it went from winter to summer in a hurry, and so I think producers were able to do a lot of catch-up in the last week,” she said.

Thirty-three per cent of the spring wheat, 26 per cent of the canola, 57 per cent of the lentils and 63 per cent of the field peas have been seeded to date. Cruise said pulse crops are off to a particularly great start.

“You now typically see pulses around the half-inch to inch mark, and I think for the most part that’s where a lot of our moisture is right now,” Cruise said.

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Seeding is furthest advanced in the southeast, but producers in the Prince Albert, Melfort, Shellbrook and North Battleford areas have made some big gains. Twenty-eight per cent is seeded in the northeast and 24 per cent in the northwest. Both regions had big jumps from three-per cent the week prior.

Cropland topsoil moisture is generally rated as adequate. Some pastures and hay land remain slow to green up, but the warmer weather has helped with growth. Some cattle producers continue to supplement their animals’ feed.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell