The rain finally came.
“Precipitation in the South and Central regions is a highlight story in this week’s crop report,” says Friday’s Alberta Crop Report which covers conditions up to June 7.
About 20-50 mm of rain fell in most areas of the two regions.
“The significant rainfall event was both timely — in that seeding for those regions is now largely complete — and meaningful — as those regions had the greatest need for moisture,” says the report.
For a large portion of the South region half of all of the precipitation in this year’s growing season fell last week.
“While more precipitation through the growing season will still be necessary for the south, given very poor subsoil moisture reserves, emergence will likely now accelerate and early season growth can continue.”
In Central region, most areas had 5-30 mm of rain and “crop reporters were communicating widespread relief with this week’s rains,” says the report.
Seeding has been completed and 94 per cent of major crops have emerged — the highest level in the province.
Pasture and tame hay fields are still lagging behind normal growth because of the cool spring and there were reports some farmers had to reseed canola because of frost.