General rainfall happened across a large area from northwestern parts of the Central Region to the North West and North East Regions, with precipitation from five to 50 mm, bringing needed moisture to the fields after a spell of hot and dry conditions. Precipitation in the Peace Region varied from spotty showers to an inch of rainfall. Most areas in the Central and Southern Regions still remained dry, although they had a brief reprieve from an exceptionally hot week.
Provincially, crop growing conditions did not change from a week ago and are rated at 60 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average (2013-2017) of 65 per cent. About 61 per cent of spring wheat, 54 per cent of barley, 68 per cent of oats, 62 per cent of canola and 59 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition. Most spring cereal crops are at the dough development stage.
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Harvest operations are starting across the province with only one per cent of crops in the bin, which is behind the 5-year average of four per cent at this time, with another one per cent of crops in the swath. About two per cent of barley and 11 per cent of dry peas have been combined, while one per cent of barley, canola and dry peas are in the swath.
Surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings across the province declined over the last week. Surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture are shown in brackets) are now rated as 20 (20) per cent poor, 30 (31) per cent fair, 38 (37) per cent good and 10 (11) per cent excellent, with two (one) per cent excessive. Pasture and tame hay conditions remained poor across the province and declined by three and one per cent, respectively, from a week ago. Pasture conditions are rated as 24 per cent poor, 36 per cent fair, 37 per cent good and three per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
