Farm and ranch producers are facing dry conditions throughout the region, according to the initial crop reports from Alberta and Saskatchewan agriculture ministries.--News Photo Collin Gallant
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Dry weather is causing worry and stalling pasture development in the region as ranchers struggle with low feed supply from overwintering, according to the first crop reports of the year for southeast Alberta and southwest Saskatchewan.
Seeding however, is well ahead of schedule in Alberta thanks to dry soil, marginal runoff and moderate wind up to the May 3 reporting date.
The Alberta report, released Friday, states that talk of repeating last year’s drought dominates concerns in the southern region surrounding Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Foremost and Strathmore.
About 50 per cent of forage or grain reserve is reported in deficit. Only 19 per cent of hayland is considered in good to excellent shape, along with just 13 per cent of pasture.
Subsoil moisture on cropland is considered 40 per cent good, but the remainder is at fair or poor levels. Planting is most advanced for cereals and pulses, with 60 per cent of durum acres completed, followed by 48 per cent of dry peas and about 40 per cent of spring wheat, barley and lentils. The potato crop is halfway in.
The overall progress is about 10 per cent more than the five-year average, but 10 per cent behind last year’s rate.
The St. Mary River Irrigation District opened its system on April 25.
In the near region of Saskatchewan, soil moisture for crops is one-third adequate with equal amounts short or very short, following a winter that led to only one-quarter the usual spring runoff.
Planting progress from Leader, Maple Creek, Shaunavon through to Swift Current sits at 8 per cent complete, about average of the last five years.
