Rains lowering fire risk but a lot more moisture needed for agricultural needs
By Medicine Hat News on June 16, 2019.
Rains have helped reduce fire risk in western Saskatchewan, but agricutlrual analysist say more is needed and soon. The Saskatcehwan Ag Ministry’s crop report to June 10 states that in the southwest quadrant concerns remain that “if rain is not received soon, current soil moisture levels will not be enough to support a crop.” About 90 per cent of all cropland acres in the area is rated as short or very short of moisture early this season. It’s the third consecutive growing season in which moisture has been a concern, and reports state current crops are heading out or slow to emerge. “Significant rainfall is needed to help crop germination and growth as well as pasture and hay land growth,” the report states, noting conditions are deteriorating and worst towards the central areas of the province. As such, crop development has been patchy, and canola producers are reporting premature flowering due to stress. Fire risk along the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary is rated as moderate to high – down from extreme last week – from the Montana boarder to Highway 9 near Oyen, according to Saskatchewan public safety officials. In Alberta, Special Areas came under a fire restriction on June 4 and Newell County upgraded its fire advisory to a fire restriction on June 10. Cypress County levelled restrictive measures in early May. Rainfall in Alberta last week was least in areas east and south of Calgary, though subsoil moisture conditions around Medicine Hat, Foremost, Lethbridge and Strathmore remain generally fair to good. That is however, downgraded from the week before and forage conditions are a challenge for some producers, according to the Alberta Crop report for June 11. Drier pasture conditions exist in the east of the southern region. Overall, crop emergence is at 96 per cent. In Saskatchewan, municipal fire bans are in effect in various rural municipalities in the southwest quadrant, including areas around Swift Current southward. Closer to Alberta bans are in place in the R.M.s of Carmichael, Lawtonia, Enterprise, Webb, Gull Lake, Big Stick, Saskatchewan Landing, Riverside, Pittville, Fox Valley, Clinworth, Happyland, Deer Forks, and Chesterfield Bans are also in place in the towns or villages of Eatonia, Kindersley, Elbow, Sceptre, and Stewart Valley. 12-11
