The forecast for seeding this spring shows that acreage for all crops is expected to remain steady or to increase, according to Sask Ag and Food's first report of the season.

Some initial field work has begun in the southeast area, including rock picking and harrowing, as producers prepare for seeding later this month or in early May.

The total forecast for seeding is for 35.1 million acres, which is five per cent above the 10-year average, and on par with last year's seeded acreage. The acres put to summerfallow is expected to increase by three per cent to 6.7 million acres, which is 30 per cent below the 10-year average.

In the southeast area, which includes the crop districts in the Weyburn region, winter precipitation was above normal in many areas. Around Yellow Grass, the area received 181 per cent of normal precipitation, while the Weyburn area received 103 per cent of normal.

Since April 1, most local RMs have received between a low of 5 millimetres (Brokenshell, Wellington and Scott) to a high of 12 (Surprise Valley) or 13 mm (Tecumseh, Cymri and The Gap).

The forecast for grasshoppers remains as a severe risk for infestation this year, particularly with the low amount of rainfall so far this spring, but the levels of wheat midge should be low. Sask Ag and Food notes, however, even areas that indicate 600 midge or less per square metre could still see significant crop damage, and producers will need to monitor their crops while their wheat is in a susceptible stage.

Other insects, such as the Bertha Armyworm, will not appear until later in the growing season; last summer, the RMs of Wellington, Fillmore and Francis had light to moderate infestations of the moth.

Seeding intentions as of this week show an increase for such grains as winter wheat (200,000 acres, up from 150,000 last year) and oats (2.38 million acres, up from 2.35 million), but decreases in others like spring wheat at 9.75 million acres, down from 9.93 million last year, and durum (4.73 million, down from 5 million last year).

Fall rye intentions are up to 260,000 acres, up from 180,000 last year; flax (1.44 million acres, up from 1.40 million) and canola (6 million, up from 5.7 million last year).

Some specialty crops will remain the same or close to the same, such as mustard (675,000 acres), sunflowers (70,000 acres), field peas (2.4 million acres) and canaryseed (550,000 acres).