After about three weeks of rain, much of the past week was warm and sunny, enabling some seeding operations to resume again, but the southeast area is still behind much of the province.

Seeding is estimated at 90 per cent complete province-wide, said Sask. Ag and Food in their weekly crop report, but crop district 2A, which encompasses much of the Weyburn area, is only 63 per cent complete, and the crop district immediately south, 3ASE, is only 61 per cent complete. This district includes the RMs of Laurier and The Gap, Surprise, Lake Alma and Souris Valley.

Crop reporters rate 60 per cent of the topsoil in the southeast as having excess moisture, up from 56 per cent the week before.

Hay and pasture land have vastly improved over where they were before the moisture came, with 81 per cent rated as having adequate moisture, and 19 per cent with surplus moisture.

With seeding delays, upcoming deadlines for crop insurance will be crucial for many producers. Saskatchewan Crop Insurance says they will not accept yield-loss liability for spring crops seeded after June 20. If a crop has not been adequately established by June 20, or has suffered significant damage, producers are to call their crop insurance office.

Crops have begun to develop and emerge, but many crops are behind normal for this time of year. Spring cereal crops are reported as being behind by 70 per cent of crop reporters, and as normal by 28 per cent; oilseed crops are rated as behind by 79 per cent of crop reporters, with 20 per cent rating their development as normal. Pulse crops are also rated as behind by 71 per cent of crop reporters, and as normal by 27 per cent.

A number of crops are rated as in good to excellent condition in the following percentages: spring wheat, 84 per cent; winter wheat, 77 per cent; fall rye, 78 per cent; durum, 85 per cent; oats, 80 per cent; barley, 81 per cent; triticale, 63 per cent; flax, 78 per cent; canola, 71 per cent; mustard, 90 per cent; sunflowers, 51 per cent; lentils, 90 per cent; peas, 87 per cent; canary seed, 84 per cent; and chickpeas, 94 per cent.

Rainfall in the past week ranged from as low as 5 millimetres in The Gap and the RM of Griffin, and 7mm in the RM of Norton, and 11 mm in Brokenshell, up to 22mm in Tecumseh, 27mm in Fillmore, 21mm in Scott, 16mm in Cymri, 18mm in Wellington and 17mm in Francis RM.