This week’s forecast is allowing producers to get out onto their fields.

Better weather arrived over the weekend, restarting seeding in most parts of Southwestern Manitoba after heavy rainfall soaked fields the previous week. Farmers are cautious in moving machinery onto untested fields, with many wet spots remaining near sloughs and river flats. Seeding is a combination of traditional drilling and broadcasting small oilseeds, in an effort to seed as quickly as possible.

Allan Brown farms in the Melita region and says this year is shaping up to be a year similar to conditions in 2014. “We’ve got about five per cent done and we’re happy with what we’ve done but it’s touch and go if we’ll be able to continue. If the sun shines and we can scratch the ground we will keep rolling but there’s going to be a few acres for sure that wont go in.”

“I’m thinking about 25 per cent we wont get in by the middle of June.”

Brown says unless the water just amazingly goes away acres will remain unseeded.

“We’re actually hoping there’s still frost in the ground holding water.”

As for alternative cropping options Allan Brown says the short seed supply makes it hard and expensive to get varieties like mustard and even oats. “Ourselves and I’ve spoken with neighbours and we just have enough seed for our own seeding intentions and anything extra will be hard to come by.” said Allan Brown.

Farmers are hoping to grow enough grain to fill their forward contracts and Brown says if prices remain high they can hopefully get through what’s shaping up to be a tough year..

In Southwestern Manitoba approximately 20% of peas and cereal crops are planted, with canola further behind. Regional seeding progress sits at 10% complete across all crop acres.