Spotty rain keeps parts of Southwest very dry

Not all parts of the Southwest received much needed rain earlier this month, with rainfall amounts varying from 100 millimetres in the Hazenmore area to just two millimetres in the Admiral area.

The Saskatchewan Agriculture Crop Report for the period of June 5 to 11 highlighted that while areas that received rain enjoyed a greening up of pasture and hayland, but other regions still need significant rainfall to get crops, pastures and hay growing.

Rainfall totals were as follows: Hazenmore (100 mm), Shaunavon (55 mm), Limerick (33 mm), Cabri (18 mm), Gull Lake (9 mm), Rockglen (8 mm), and Admiral (2 mm). Year to date, the Hazenmore area has received the most precipitation since April 1 with 133 mm of rainfall recorded.

Topsoil moisture conditions have improved with the recent rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 40 per cent short adequate, 54 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 39 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 26 per cent very short. Crop District 3BS is reporting that 30 per cent of cropland, hay land and pasture remain very short of topsoil moisture at this time.

Crop emergence has been very patchy but some fields will benefit from the recent rain. Eighteen per cent of the spring cereals, 34 per cent of the oilseeds and 14 per cent of the pulse crops are behind their normal stages of development for this time of year. Pastures and hay land remain in poor condition. The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lack of moisture, strong winds, localized flooding and insects such as flea beetles in canola.