NORTH BATTLEFORD - The region received spotty rain showers over the past week, but producers were happy to get whatever moisture they could. Pastures have started to green up in parts of the region that were previously very dry. Some fields are now too wet to conduct in-crop spraying and producers hope weeds don’t get too large before they can get back into their fields.
The Meadow Lake area received 97 mm, the Spiritwood area 84 mm, the St. Walburg area 60 mm, Glaslyn and Turtleford areas 33 mm and the Speers area 20 mm. Producers would like to see a week of warm weather now that they got some rain to allow their crops to grow at a quicker pace.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, four per cent short and four per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate, 11 per cent short and five per cent very short.
Development of crops, hay and pasture in the northwest had been slow in recent weeks due to the cool temperatures, high winds and increasingly dry conditions. Now that some moisture and warmer temperatures have been received, crops should catch up quickly.
Regionally, 62 per cent of the spring cereals, 70 per cent of the oilseed crops and 78 per cent of the pulse crops are at their normal stages of development for this time of year. 23 per cent of the spring cereals, 29 per cent of the oilseed crops and 22 per cent of the pulse crops are behind schedule in their development.
Producers are busy spraying herbicides when able and scouting their fields for disease and insect damage.
