Farmers are still several months away from spring seeding. But the latest moisture report from Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development should help improve their outlook for next year.
The department said most areas of the province have received precipitation accumulations during the past 60 days that are well above normal. It anticipates that most of this moisture will be stored in the soil or snow pack, which should serve crops well.
Most of the area east of Red Deer is rated as having had “moderately high” accumulations of precipitations from Oct. 7 to Dec. 5. To the west, the accumulations are mostly at “near normal” levels.
As for snow pack accumulations in stubble fields, Central Alberta varies from “high” in the east to “near normal” to the west. In between, including much of the area around Red Deer, snow pack accumulations are rated as “moderately high.”
Alberta Agriculture’s moisture maps can be found online at www.agriculture.alberta.ca/maps.