Most areas in the province are about one to two weeks away from seeding. Farmers are making sure equipment, seed, and fertilizer are ready ahead of one of the busiest times of the year.
Depending on the region, farmers are still waiting or just starting to work in the field. Tyce Masich, a Crops Extension Specialist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, heard some producers in the most southwestern parts of the province, close to the U.S. border, began to seed a few acres of durum.
“That’s only been a few acres and not too widespread.” Masich added.
Kevin Hursh, the Chief Agricultural Editor of SaskAgToday.com, farms in the Cabri area, northwest of Swift Current. Hursh confirmed some producers in his area have planted some acres, including himself.
“We’ve tried to gear up and just have a little bit of seeding done, just got nicely started. I got a few acres sprayed, got a few acres seeded, and it turned wet – a fair bit of rain,” Hursh said. “I talked to one neighbour that started, others were contemplating and getting close, waiting for things to warm up and dry off just a little bit more, but the forecast ahead, as soon as this dries up, I think in this area they’ll be a lot of people starting up.”
Jake Leguee, who is the Chairperson of SaskWheat and farms in the Fillmore area in the southeast, thought they would start seeding this week, but recent precipitation changed those plans.
“With the snow that we got over the last couple of days obviously that sets things back, in addition to the rain a week ago, so we got lots of moisture now, we got I’d say better part of eight inches of very wet snow,” Leguee said. “Too early to be concerned about seeding late at this point, so we’ll be just happy that we’re starting off in good shape when it comes to moisture.”