Soggy patches in Manitoba and tinder dry pastures in southern Alberta have made farmers anxious to get into the fields.
Until last week conditions in the southwestern corner of Alberta were bone dry, with no precipitation since June 1998. But a spring snowstorm and rains last week left southern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan with up to five centimetres of moisture in some regions.
“With this rain they’re on the way to the bank,” said Jim Hehn of Agricore’s Lethbridge, Alta., office.
For many southern areas across the region, moisture conditions were questionable until snow made an appearance. Many feared they might be seeding into dust this year.
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“Wet snow changed everyone’s attitude,” says Alberta Agriculture crop specialist Jim Hansen in Cardston.
Rain also reached Manitoba by the first of May, just in time for seeding.
Seeding of wheat and barley has started in southern Alberta. From Calgary north, conditions are wetter and cooler so seeding is expected to get going this week.
In Saskatchewan peas, durum, mustard, lentils and spring wheat are going into the ground this week.
Nearly a quarter of seeding is finished in the southwestern part of Saskatchewan but conditions have remained cool so soil temperatures are below normal. Overall the pro-vince has about three percent of seeding completed. Last year, seeding had progressed further but conditions were unusually warm, said crop specialist Terry Karwandy with Saskatchewan Agriculture.
Ironically eastern Saskatchewan had plenty of moisture but recent drying winds formed a crust over topsoil so farmers would welcome some rain to soften the surface.
Seeding in Manitoba ranges from five to 85 percent complete, depending on region.
“Normally it goes west to east but this year it’s the opposite,” said Dave Campbell of Manitoba Agriculture.
In eastern regions of Manitoba, cereals are about 85 percent seeded while the southwest remains dry and windy with only about five percent of seeding done. Strong winds throughout the province have dried many fields so erosion is becoming a problem.
Pastures in all three provinces are dry. Dugouts received little spring runoff so concerns over adequate water for livestock are common in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Manitoba is reporting dried out sloughs and forage stands are growing slowly due to dry winds and little rain.
Alberta pastures were subject to a higher number of grass fires this year. The burned areas are recovering well but producers must be careful not to graze these spots too heavily, said Hansen.
