HUMBOLDT - Seeding progress has been steady in the region since the beginning of May and many producers have finished seeding in record time, according to the crop report for the period of May 16 to 22. Seeding progress is at 76 per cent, up from 35 per cent last week and is well ahead of the five-year average of 63 per cent. Producers took advantage of abnormally dry conditions for this time of year. Now they would now like to see a good soaking rain in the region. Early seeded crops are beginning to emerge and for the time being, have enough moisture to establish themselves. However, if the weather continues to be hot, dry and windy the crop could quickly deteriorate.
There was not much rain across the region over the past week with the highest recorded being eight mm in the Prince Albert area. As a result of the rainless, windy week, topsoil conditions in the region declined. Cropland topsoil condition is rated as 71 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and 3 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 61 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 3 per cent very short.
Pastures in the region are rated to be three per cent excellent, 48 per cent good, 40 per cent fair, 8 per cent poor and only 1 per cent very poor. Livestock producers are happy to see their pastures bounce back and will be moving any remaining animals to pastures soon. As always, producers would like to see semi-regular summer showers on their pastures to ensure grass regrowth as cattle graze it.
Most of the crops are normal in their developmental stage for this time of year due to adequate moisture early in the spring and warm daytime temperatures. There were reports of frost and producers will be out assessing damage over the next couple days.
