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Seeding progress slowed by week of rain and cooler weather

Jun 7, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Crop growth was delayed in much of the province and most crops are behind their normal developmental stages for this time of year, according to the latest crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The rainfall this past week helped alleviate some concerns about dry fields. The amount of rain varied across the province, with producers in the Porucpine Plain area receiving about 80 mm and farmers in the Prince Albert and Spiritwood areas receiving between 30 and 40 mm.

The rainfall also helped improve topsoil moisture conditions. Provincially, moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 12 per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and five per cent very short.

Seeding operations are nearing completion, although the rain is expected to delay progress in some areas. Ninety-six per cent of the crop is now seeded, up from 91 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average of 90 per cent for this time of year. Seeding is furthest advanced in the south, where 98 per cent of the crop is seeded. Ninety-seven per cent is seeded in the west-central region, 96 per cent in the northeast and northwest, and 93 per cent in the east-central region.