The cool and windy weather of the past week slowed down the initial startup of seeding in the southeast area, which is now up to about four per cent completed.

Crop specialist Elaine Moats noted that some people who were able to start seeding in mid-April stopped during the days of high wind and cooler temperatures, while others with large numbers of acres to seed just kept on going.

"Those with fewer acres to seed, or who have a more manageable size, are doing things like spreading straw, picking rocks, getting equipment ready to seed. Some land, depending on the lay of the land, have wet spots that aren't ready for seeding yet, so it's hard to make generalizations about seeding at this time of year," said Moats.

The area with the greatest progress so far is west of a line from Weyburn to Estevan out to the southwest area, she said, but even within this region there are people who haven't yet started seeding along with those who are well along.

Broken down by crop districts, district 3ase, south of Weyburn along the U.S. border, is 16 per cent seeded, while districts 1a and 2b are only two per cent done.

Topsoil moisture is reported to have improved over the last week, and Moats said it is generally adequate right now for seeding, and the subsoil conditions are "reasonable" currently.

The moisture levels are high enough to allow for planted crops to start germinating, said Moats, and while the area seems generally dry, "at this point there isn't a cause for concern. We've never yet lost a crop at this point of the year."

Hay and pasture land also have adequate levels of moisture, but their soil levels require more moisture to rejuvenate due to the root systems of the forage grasses.

Meanwhile, on windy days some people are reluctant to take their machinery out, partly in fear of stirring up the soil and contributing to soil erosion, said Moats.

In a subsoil moisture map released as of May 1, much of the southeast area is good to very good, especially the RMs of 66, 67, 36, 37, and parts of 68 and 38, and 98 and 99.