Rain welcome but not nearly enough

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on May 14, 2022.

https://www.medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

Scattered showers throughout the region helped but hardly solved concerns about soil moisture from farm and ranch operators heading into the 2022 growing season, the Alberta and Saskatchewan crop reports stated this week.

Most areas of southern Alberta received less than 5 millimetres of rainfall (less than a quarter-inch) of rain up to May 10, not enough to slow planting which reached the halfway point in the Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Strathmore and Foremost regions.

But it did little to improve sub-soil moisture content across the south, which is now rated only 28 per cent good or excellent.

Ratings are driest in two large bands; south of Highway 3, and a patch from west of Brooks to the Special Areas.

Pasture throughout is greening, but is lagging due to cool temperatures and lack of rain.

Across the province, hay and forage acres are three-quarters poor to fair after heavy grazing in 2021.

Rain in southwest Saskatchewan has improved soil moisture conditions, but more is needed to support germination and pasture development, according to that province’s crop report, released May 12.

Shaunavon and Gull Lake areas area received about one inch of rain in the May 3-9 period, but other areas received only trace amounts.

Driest conditions in the region exist in large pockets around Maple Creek and Leader, and a band along the provincial boundary.

About half the crop acres in the entire region has “adequate” subsoil moisture, with the remainder short. Pasture and hayland is near 40 per cent adequate. About 40 per cent of seeding is complete, just above the five year average.

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