Farmers have been making good progress with their seeding operations.

Last week, Saskatchewan Agriculture's Weekly Crop Report showed about 38% of the provincial crop was in the ground.

When the crop report came out on Thursday the South West region was leading the province with 56 per cent of its crop seeded, followed by the South East with 44 per cent, the West Central was at 35 per cent, 34 per cent in the North West, 24 per cent in the East Central and then finally 22 per cent in the North East.

Todd Lewis, farms in the Regina area and expects to see those numbers jump this week as farmers had another weekend of good weather:

"Well in our area south of Regina really everybody's had a pretty good run. We've finished up on the weekend here and so really in our area, you know it would be fully two thirds to 100% in some cases.  You know really I think across the entire province it's probably 50% to two thirds done."

Lewis says now they want to see some moisture to really help push crop emergence.

Environment Canada's forecast is calling for a shift to cooler temperatures and some precipitation in most areas of Saskatchewan this week.

He notes moisture whether its rain or snow would be a welcome site right now.

Lewis is President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan and says well moisture would be good news, farmers also heard some good news last week with Bill C-208 receiving third reading in the House of Commons.

Bill C-208 - is a private members bill designed to lower taxes on family farm business transfers.

He says there's been a wrinkle in the tax act when a farmer exits the industry, that treats his family members differently than if the land was sold to another buyer:

"You know Mr Maguire in Manitoba has been able to get this through and congratulations to him and to all Members of Parliament that got this looked after finally and changed this regulation. It really levels the playing field, you know, between families and non-family members as far as being able to purchase a farm and and pass that land on to the next generation."

Bill C-208 received bipartisan support with 199 MP's voting in favour and 128 against.