During the past week, rain has continued to fall — mostly in the form of widespread thunderstorm activities. Almost all agricultural lands received up to 20 mm of rain, with large areas in North East, North West and Peace Regions receiving upwards of 50 mm. The generally warm wet weather across the province has contributed to crop advancement. While fall seeded crops across the province are in the head emergence or flowering stages, other cereals are largely in the stem elongation stage. Most canola and pulses are in the 4-6 leaf/node stage of development.
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Provincially, crop growing conditions are 80 per cent good to excellent, up eight per cent from the 5-year average (2011-2015). About 83 per cent of spring wheat, 81 per cent of barley, 88 per cent of oats, 75 per cent of canola, 82 per cent of dry peas, 91 per cent of potatoes and 95 per cent of sugar beets are in good to excellent condition.
Recent rainfall maintained the surface soil moisture, with no change from the previous week, and also improved sub surface soil moisture conditions. Provincially, surface moisture was rated at 81 per cent good or excellent compared to 28 per cent a year ago. Sub-surface soil moisture conditions across the province have improved and are rated as 69 per cent good or excellent compared to 31 per cent last year and the 5-year average of 71 per cent.
Pasture and hay fields generally look good and haying has started in the province. The condition of both pasture and tame hay improved three per cent across the province to about 30 per cent poor to fair and 70 per cent good to excellent.
