West Central in line with five-year average for seeding progress

Seeding progress around west-central Saskatchewan is going as expected. Producers aren't ahead, or behind, instead perfectly in line with the five-year-average (2020-2024) of 11 per cent.

Leading the way for seeded crops are field peas at 26 per cent, and lentils at 21 per cent. Durum is third at 17 per cent, Canola is 11 per cent, and then spring wheat is nine per cent and canary seed is eight per cent. Barley crops are three per cent seeded, and then both mustard and soybeans are sitting at one per cent. The release also shared that perennial forage currently sits at four per cent seeding completion.

A lack of rainfall has been beneficial for seeding progress, but it's beginning to have an impact on moisture ratings. The first local crop report is sharing that cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 12 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hay land topsoil is reading a one per cent surplus for moisture, 75 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and seven per cent very short. Pastureland is also down at one per cent surplus, 74 per cent adequate, 18 per cent short and seven per cent very short.

Other data from the local crop report shared some details on reported spring runoff in late April. Regional data is indicating a nine per cent below normal runoff, 64 per cent normal and 27 per cent above normal. It's a common consensus between crop reporters that the runoff expected should be enough to replenish dugouts and other bodies of water.

More pasture data collected from the crop report stated that 8 per cent of pastures within the region are reported as excellent, 48 per cent are reported as good, 21 per cent reported as in fair condition, seven per cent reported as poor and six per cent very poor.

While the west-central region is nearly ahead of schedule, it's still lagging behind overall seeding progress around the province. As a whole the province is 18 per cent complete, ahead of where things were one-year ago when seeding was only 12 per cent done across Saskatchewan.

While seeding continues, producers are also running sprayers, harrowing, and rock picking. Cattle producers are calving, moving cattle to pasture, and fixing up things around the farm after a long winter.