Seeding progress around west-central Saskatchewan is moving at a faster rate than anywhere around the province.
In the Ministry of Agriculture's latest local crop report released Thursday, it was shared that seeding in the region is 81 per cent complete. That represents a 38 per cent jump from one week ago and is well above the five-year-average of 60 per cent.
The productive week resulted in seeding progress of 97 per cent for field peas, and 96 per cent for lentils. Chickpeas are coming along at 61 per cent, still noticeably lower than other pulses noted the report. Spring cereal seeding is over half done with triticale done, spring wheat at 84 per cent, durum at 73 per cent, canary at 71, barley just behind at 70 per cent, leaving oats at 42 per cent complete as the only cereal under half done. Canola and mustard are both 3/4 seeded, flax down at 60 per cent. Rounding out the list is a continued slow pace for perennial forages at 30 per cent, and soybeans at one per cent.
The main reason for the substantial progress has to be the lack of rainfall for the area, allowing producers to remain in the fields. It's been enough to keep farmers working in the fields, but also keep their rain gauges active. Most areas were in the 6-12 mm mark, but leading the way was the Milden area at 26 mm, Kindersley at 15 mm, and areas around Rosetown, Arlee, Unity and Coleville that all received 13 mm of rainfall.
The moist conditions have kept topsoil conditions in a good spot. According to the release cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short, and two per cent very short. Hay land moisture levels are reading three per cent surplus, 48 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short, and eight per cent very short, coming in similar to what's being seen in the pasture at 48 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short, and eight per cent very short.
With all the progress this week local farmers are getting close to wrapping up seeding. After that they will hope for a good rain to aid in crop emergence and development, as the rest of the province works towards the 100 per cent mark, currently at 72 per cent complete as of Thursday's latest crop report.