Soil moisture conditions across western Canada range from poor to excess. In Manitoba, the Red River Valley still remains submerged under the swollen Red River although water levels have receded 2 ½ feet. The majority of agroManitoba has good to excessive moisture. In Saskatchewan, soil moisture conditions range from dry to excellent. Moisture from the snowstorm last week stayed south of Highway #1 so areas north of Swift Current, and north and west of Gravelbourg are dry. Soil moisture conditions are fairly dry in the Kindersley, Rosetown and Unity areas. There is an extremely dry pocket in eastern Alberta around the Coronation and Consort area where conditions are similar to those of the 2002 drought. Many areas of central Alberta and parts of the Peace River Region are relatively dry and will require spring rains shortly after seeding.
The latest crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food & Rural Revitalization is available at:
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/crprpt090430
The first crop report for 2009 from Alberta Agriculture & Food will be available May 12.
Maps of current moisture conditions in western Canada from PFRA are available at:
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpay09_e.htm
http://www.agr.gc.ca/pfra/drought/prpgs09_e.htm
Additional moisture information for Alberta is available from Alberta Environment at: