REGINA — Most of Alberta, western Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba need rain to improve topsoil moisture, says a Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration water supply report.
Although winter precipitation was good through most of the Prairies, most agricultural regions received less than half of normal precipitation between March 1 and May 1.
The report, which contains information provided by the Prairie Drought Monitoring Network, said soil moisture reserves on stubble are highly variable.
Northern Alberta dry
“The Calgary-Brooks-Coronation triangle is very dry as are parts of northern Alberta, northwest Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba. Much of southern and central Saskatchewan, southern Alberta and eastern Manitoba have average or better than average reserves.”
Water supplies vary
On-farm water supplies are considered adequate to good in most areas. There are some shortages or potential shortages from dugout and stockwatering supplies possible in northwest Saskatchewan and in the Westlake and Hamiota areas in southwest Manitoba.
Pastures are generally fair to good, except in northeast Alberta, northwest Saskatchewan and the Hamiota area where they are fair to poor.
