Farmers seeding in NW region hoping for rain

Environment and Climate Change Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell said the forecast remains dry for the Battlefords and surrounding area for the week ahead up to May 13.

“Looking at the current forecast, there are likely more cloudy conditions today, tonight, tomorrow (May 7 and 8),” she said. “But unfortunately the chance of rain for North Battleford is a little bit less. It looks like areas south are more likely to see some rain, mostly focused on the South Western corner of the province. So it looks like it could continue to be quite dry.”

For the following week starting May 14, there will be a few days with cloudy conditions but it is not certain whether there will be any participation, based on the long range report.

She said there are slightly better changes, but “it is not looking very encouraging.”

Temperatures meanwhile will be a little cooler than average on May 7 and 8, with a high up to 14 C. The average temperature for this time of year is 17 C. Looking at the week ahead, the average temperature will be close to 17 C. Then for the following week beginning May 14, temperatures are forecast from 17 C to up to 20 C.

Cool and dry

According to the latest crop report from the province for April 27 to May 3, the abnormally cool spring delayed field operations in many regions, but warmer daily temperatures have helped producers get more seed planted on their fields.

Topsoil moisture for cropland, hay and pasture in most areas of the province is currently below normal levels.

However, it’s not a concern yet, Struthers said, as most of the province is rated as adequate or less than adequate. So there is enough moisture to germinate seed and support a seedling for a little while.

“The whole province will need rain before getting into the full blown season,” he said.

Often for the local region, the winter season will finish with a heavy snowfall in April. But that wasn’t the case in 2021.

“A massive snowfall probably would have been welcomed by most farmers who need the moisture,” Struthers said. “But typically the cool weather we’ve experienced so far at the end of April mostly just delayed farmers due to keeping the soils cool. You need higher soil temperatures to seed into. You don’t want the seed to germinate and then have it frost off or be too cold.”

Seeding in the Northwest region started last week continues to progress but is a bit behind the provincial average. About five per cent of seeding has been done so far in the region. That is up from the five-year average for the area, which is about one per cent. However, it is less than the provincial tally of nine per cent of the 2021 crop planted now. The provincial five-year average is six per cent for this time of year.

Struthers said it does tend to be cooler in the northern part of the province, which affects seeding levels.

So far the main crops in the Northwest region being planted this year are field peas, followed by cereal crops such as durum, barley and spring wheat.

Producers are expected to plant pulse crops, such as beans, chickpeas, Faba beans and lentils, as well as canola gradually in the coming weeks when the field soil warms up a bit more.

With the dry weather continuing in the Battlefords area, Hasell reminds everyone to follow fire bans in place, wherever they are. People should be careful not to discard matches or cigarettes, for example, near grasslands.

“We have winds gusting to 60 kilometres per hour today (May 7),” she said. “So even under cloudy conditions, it is dry enough for things to catch fire. Be careful driving your ATVs. Maybe that doesn’t need to be done in the next little while.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Farmers seeding in NW region hoping for rain

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