The Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture weekly crop report says 72 per cent of the provincial crop has been seeded.

Progress remains higher than the ten-year average of 64 per cent, despite some seeding delays due to rain in southeast and east central regions late last week.

The southwest has the most crop in the ground at 89 percent; northwest and west-central are next at 81 per cent; northeast 74 per cent; southeast 63 per cent and the east-central region has 58 per cent of seeding done.

Most of the pulses are in the ground with peas at 92 per cent, lentils 90 per cent and chickpeas 83 per cent. Large portions of many cereal crops are in as well with durum at 87 per cent seeded, spring wheat 80 per cent and barley 71 per cent. Oats has passed the halfway mark at 56 per cent seeded. Canola is also over the halfway point at 58 per cent with flax at an even 50 per cent.

The largest amount of rain fell at Lampman in the southeast at 139 millimetres followed by Oxbow at 100 millimetres and Carnduff 93 millimetres. Lesser amounts of rain fell in central areas, while there was little precipitation in the northeast and northwest.

Provincial topsoil moisture ratings have improved—but there are still dry conditions in some areas experiencing depleted topsoil moisture reserves. On a provincial basis, cropland topsoil moisture is rated six per cent surplus, 69 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and three per cent very short. Topsoil moisture levels in pastures are two per cent surplus, 60 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and seven per cent very short.

A link to the region-by-region crop report is here. This is an interview recorded on May 22 with CJWW Agriculture Director Neil Billinger and Kerrobert-area farmer Jeremy Welter.