The first crop report of the season was released by the provincial Ministry of Agriculture, and the southeast corner of the province is making good headway with the start of seeding. Despite some precipitation slowing things down, producers in the region have 16 percent of the crop in the ground. This is ahead of the provincial mark of 12 percent. Overall progress throughout the province, however, is behind the five- and ten-year averages of 23 and 20 percent, respectively.  

The Weyburn area of the report, which includes Avonlea, Fillmore, Radville and Minton, is the furthest ahead in the region at 37 percent. The Carnduff, Estevan, Lampan, Redvers and Stoughton area is 13 percent complete.  

The rain that slowed down the progress was beneficial, however, improving the topsoil moisture. For cropland, it was rated as nine percent surplus, 82 percent adequate, seven percent short and one percent very short. The rating for hay land was six percent surplus, 73 percent adequate, 19 percent short and three percent very short. For pastureland, it was rated as five percent surplus, 72 percent adequate, 20 percent short, and three percent very short.  

Now that the low-pressure system that brought the rain has moved off, producers are hoping for a stretch of dry, warm weather that will let them get back into the field to continue seeding operations.