BATTLEFORDS - Producers in the northwest have made great seeding progress this week due to limited rainfall and are now 55 per cent done seeding. This is ahead of the five-year average of 39 per cent.
Field peas are nearing completion with 90 per cent of the crop in the ground. Lentils is 86 per cent seeded and spring wheat is 81 per cent seeded. Canola is 35 per cent seeded and oats is 29 per cent seeded.
The northwest has received little rain this past week. North Battleford has received the most with 13 per cent. Rabbit Lake received 3 mm and many areas of the region only received trace amounts.
Topsoil moisture levels are beginning to degrade for the northwest. In cropland, 49 per cent has adequate topsoil moisture and 44 per cent is short. In hay and pasture land, the topsoil moisture is 43 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 19 per cent very short.
Producers are busy seeding, spraying and moving cattle out to pasture. Producers are keeping the fire bans in their minds as they progress through the season and are hoping for rain to ease the drying conditions.
