Southeast Alberta farmers are nearly finished seeding for the season, the latest Alberta crop report shows.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
@MedicineHatNews
Seeding is nearing completion in southeast Alberta on May 20, according to the latest edition of the Alberta crop report.
That also comes as scattered rain improved ratings toward normal levels after drier than normal conditions in the early spring.
Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Foremost and Strathmore regions saw surface moisture improve to 39 per cent fair, 46 per cent good and seven per cent excellent over the week where subsurface moisture remained steady.
At the same time crop seeding progress moved to 87 per cent complete – about 10 points above the 10-year average.
That includes all crops, though major crops of durum, spring wheat, dry peas and barley are nearly complete.
Across the province, 73 per cent of acres are seeded.
Local pasture conditions are also improved slightly at 34 per cent fair and 50 per cent good.
Producers in southwest Saskatchewan are also well progressed, according to that province’s Ministry of Agriculture, at 89 per cent of crops in the ground.
As for moisture, “contrary to historical trends, the southwest currently has some of the highest soil moisture conditions in the province,” the report issued May 19 states.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated 75 per cent adequate, 21 per cent short and three per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 74 per cent adequate, and pasture topsoil moisture 64 per cent adequate.
