ASSINIBOIA - Producers now have 13 per cent of their crop in the ground. While this is behind the five-year average of 32 per cent, producers are not worried about getting all of their acres seeded.
Producers in the west half of the region are already reporting that their crop land and pastures are dry and would like to see widespread precipitation.
Over the past week there were localized showers in the Gull Lake and Shaunavon areas that resulted in 21 mm of rainfall. This moisture will help crops and pastures establish themselves this spring. Topsoil ratings have improved from snowfall over the winter and the spring storm that took place in April. Producers are happy to see their dugouts recharged and fields have adequate moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 1 per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and 2 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 1 per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 23 per cent short and 1 per cent very short. Even with the improved soil moisture conditions, producers would like to see it rain more regularly throughout the coming weeks.
Producers are already testing water sources on their pastures to ensure the quality is safe for livestock. Now that calving has finished, they are also moving cattle to pasture. These pastures have been slow to green up this spring after cool wet conditions and livestock producers are nervous about how well their pastures will sustain their cattle after two hard years under dry conditions.
