A longer winter has delayed seeding by at least a week in areas south of the TransCanada Highway.

“Some of the producers I have talked to are hoping to start this weekend in the southwest, but it’s varying pockets here and there,” says Daphne Cruise, a Ministry of Agriculture crop extension specialist in Moose Jaw. “Hopefully, some more will start early next week in areas where the snow has been gone for a couple of weeks now.”

Central and northern areas are looking at least another week or two of waiting.

“The snow went in a quick manner, so now they are dealing with standing water. The frost line has not quite left the upper portions of the soil, so warmer soil temperatures are needed.”

Cruise says drier southern areas of the province will have enough soil moisture to get the seed germinated and off to a good start. Last year’s dry growing season means there is little to no subsoil moisture and regular rain will be needed during the growing season.