Seeding is most advanced in the southeast, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report, where 46 per cent of the crop has been planted and early-seeded crops are emerging. However, the crop land in the Weyburn area desperately needs moisture, as it has entered into a very short condition for topsoil moisture and is currently the driest area in the southeast.

"Moisture is a concern for farmers; we have advanced quite a ways and are looking at our earlier-seeded crop emerging with patchiness. When they predict rain, and does not amount to anything, it starts to become a concern for farmers," said area farmer Jeff Gaab.

The past week in the southeast was cool with some wind. An average of 1 mm of precipitation was reported. Farmers report that 21 per cent of the crop land has adequate moisture, down from 39 per cent last week. The balance of the crop land has short or very short topsoil moisture. Farmers report that 12 per cent of the hay and pasture land has adequate topsoil moisture and the balance is short or very short moisture.

Of the crops seeded, peas lead the way with 42 per cent seeded, then lentils at 20 per cent, spring wheat at 12 per cent and canola at 8 per cent. In some areas, there is expected to be more wheat and canola seeded and fewer acres of specialty crop. Some early-seeded wheat and barley have emerged. Germination is slow in many areas due to cool temperatures and dry soil and farmers are concerned whether germination will occur and how evenly.

Some farmers anticipate planting some crop acres to greenfeed due to very slow growth of hay crops and pastures. Planned oilseed acres may be shifted to cereals due to dry conditions. Livestock continue to be fed and farmers are running low on hay supplies. Water is in short supply in the Pangman area.

"Right now the pasture conditions and hay fields are in a real need of moisture and soon, or else it will not be a large hay crop," said Gaab. "There is not even growth to get cattle out to pasture and there is also a concern about the dugouts being recharged. We do not know if hay and pasture lands will even make it into July."