Over half of the crops in Saskatchewan are in the ground, according to the Agriculture Saskatchewan’s weekly crop report.

Due to the dry conditions last week, farmers were able to hit the fields and made a lot of progress.

“A lot of producers I think wouldn’t mind the rainfall. A lot of seeding has been done and it has been fairly dry in the region for this past little while. So the rain will help with crops to germinate and also to fester growth,” said Crops Extensions Specialist Sara Tetland.

Fifty-one per cent of crops are planted, which is on par with the five-year average.

Seventy-four per cent of crops have been seeded in the southwest region. There is 59 per cent seeded in the west-central, 57 per cent seeded in the southeast, 38 per cent seeded in the northwest, 32 per cent seeded in the east-central and 26 per cent seeded in the northeast.

Looking forward, parts of southern Saskatchewan are expected to receive rain this week.

While it will slow down seeding operations, it could be welcome news for most farmers.

“For example the southwest region has been fairly dry and they could use some rain and they are a little bit ahead is seeding,” Tetland said.

“An area a little further ahead might want the rain a little bit more, but it kind of a trade-off. There are benefits and not benefits for both.”

According to Environment Canada, Assiniboia received 5.8 mm of rain on Wednesday, while Coronach registered 4.7 mm and Rockglen recorded 5.1 mm.

Other centres to record some rain include Eastend, in the southwest corner, with 13.4 mm and Mankota soaking in 12mm and 22 mm falling in and around Val Marie.