Seeding advances nearly doubling completed acres

Ron Walter - For Moose Jaw Express

Saskatchewan farmers almost doubled the acres seeded during the last week, reaching 68 per cent completed up from 38 per cent the previous week.

Most advanced regions are the northwest at 84 per cent, west central at 76 per cent and the southwest at 71 per cent.

Provincially, topsoil moisture ratings fell with two per cent surplus, two-thirds adequate and 29 per cent short.

Farmers in the southwest would appreciate a soft gentle rain, said the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture crop report for the week ended May 22.

The southeast region, which includes Moose Jaw, almost tripled seeding to 51 per cent, but way behind the average of 73 per cent. Excess moisture delayed seeding.

Eighty-eight per cent of cultivated land in the southeast had adequate moisture with eight per cent surplus and a mere four per cent short.

In the southwest, seeding was three-quarters completed and almost double last week’s progress.

One-third of topsoil moisture was short with 61 per cent adequate and seven per cent short.

Crops are slowly emerging and appear to be doing well.

$19.1 million last year, compared to a net loss of $13.4 million during the 2020-21 year.

Upgrades to the two casinos are part of a $2.1 billion plan by Saskatchewan’s Crown corporations in 2023-24 to enhance system safety and reliability, better serve customers and support the prov- ince’s growing economy, according to the province.

During this fiscal year, SaskTel plans to invest $412 million, SaskEnergy a record $331 million, SaskPower with $1.15 billion, SaskWater with $44.6 million and SGI with $31.2 million.