Seeding by most Saskatchewan farmers is ahead of average, and producers in Crop District 2A, which encompasses the Weyburn area, is furthest ahead in the southeast.

Provincially seeding is about 19 per cent complete, with the southeast area at 24 per cent. In CD 2A, seeding is about 28 per cent complete, in spite of cool, dry weather over the past week.

Producers in the southern area of the province received their greatest wish on Tuesday, with heavy, wet snow blanketing the area, especially heavy south of Weyburn. Many producers were out on their land Monday in advance of the coming moisture.

"The snow and rain in the southeast will help replenish the topsoil moisture. The snowfall is more than welcome, and will enable them to finish seeding operations," said Ken Panchuk, the provincial soil specialist for Sask. Ag and Food.

If the snowfall is a significantly large amount, he added, "it will certainly go towards building subsoil moisture, which is only fair to good in the southeast."

Prior to the wet snow, topsoil moisture in the area was dropping, with only 18 per cent of crop reporters reporting adequate moisture compared to 33 per cent the week before. Some areas around Weyburn received rain from thundershowers on Saturday afternoon, but these were localized rain storms.

Moisture was rated as very short by 14 per cent of crop reporters, and for hay and pasture land, only two per cent of reporters said there was adequate moisture.

"Pasture and hay land needs moisture in April and early May, so this snowfall is very timely and conditions should improve significantly from this event," said Panchuk.

Due to the dryness prior to Tuesday, some fall-seeded crops have not progressed well yet, with 14 per cent of winter wheat and 10 per cent of fall rye winterkilled in the southeast area.

Early seeded crops have sprouted, but there is not much crop emergence reported in the area as yet, which may change with the new moisture on the land. Panchuk said the snow won't hurt the newly-sprouted plants, as the soil temperatures have warmed up quite a bit in the last few weeks.

Some early reports of gophers and grasshoppers were also starting to come in.