Seeding is muddling along as 29 per cent of the provincial crop has been planted so far, according to the latest crop report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture.
While it's up from 16 per cent last week, it's really behind the five year average of 55 per cent and the ten year average of 52 per cent.
Crop Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Davidson Ugheoke says farmers in the south made the bulk of progress with the southwest at 55 per cent complete and the southeast at 41 per cent complete.
The west-central region is at 30 per cent, the northwest 16 per cent, the east-central at 11 per cent and the northeast is still lagging behind at just three per cent complete.
"A couple of my colleagues drove around the province, (and) you could see some action in some places, so by this time next week, I think we should have significant numbers up." said Ugheoke.
A weather system last week brought strong winds and mixed precipitation through the province, with some areas getting rainfall and others snow and flurries.
The Dundurn area, north of Regina, recorded the most precipitation at 83 millimetres (mm), followed by North Battleford at 82 mm and the Big Arm area at 68 mm.
The widespread precipitation recharged topsoil moisture for crop land, hay land and pasture land.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated at 27 per cent surplus; 67 per cent adequate; five per cent short; and one per cent very short.
Hayland topsoil moisture is 19 per cent surplus; 72 per cent adequate; and nine per cent short.
Pasture topsoil moisture is 14 per cent surplus; 73 per cent adequate; 11 per cent short; and two per cent very short.
In terms of seeding progress by crop type, pulses lead the way with 53 per cent of lentils and field peas in the ground and 40 per cent of chickpeas seeded.
Various cereal crops are being planted with durum the farthest ahead at 49 per cent, triticale 34 per cent, barley 27 per cent, spring wheat 25 per cent, canary seed 15 per cent, and oats 11 per cent.
For oilseeds, mustard is 30 per cent complete, flax 21 per cent, and canola 15 per cent. Perennial forages are also 15 per cent complete.
Regarding activity last week, the report states farmers are monitoring early seeded crops "particularly after the low temperatures and frost last week" as well as "gradually applying pre-seed herbicides when the weather permits to manage weeds and are also completing operations such as harrowing, land rolling and rock picking."
"They are just looking at the weather forecast and determining whether they could go ahead or not, and to a large extent, they've been pretty responsible with that." said Ugheoke of producers who were able to do field work.
Meanwhile, "livestock producers are checking fences and beginning to move cattle to pasture" with pastures starting to green up as a result of recent precipitation.
A reminder to farmers and the public, from the Ministry of Agriculture, to be safe during the seeding season, adding the Farm Stress Line is available for producers and their families.
