Most of the province received some moisture over the last week, including some of the drier areas in the southwest.

The rain delayed some field work for producers trying to wrap up seeding.

Precipitation ranged from trace amounts up to 54 mm in the Dinsmore area and 64 mm around Glenavon.

Heavy rain and winds also resulted in reports of hail and localized flooding in some areas.

Crops Extension Specialist Sara Tetland says the rain has helped to improve moisture conditions.

Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 78 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short, and one per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and three per cent very short. 

Moisture conditions improved slightly in the West Central part of the province where cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short, and four per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 55 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and six per cent very short.

Rain delayed some seeding activity but overall  96 per cent of the provincial crop is in the ground. 

Producers in the west-central region have 99 per cent of the crop in, seeding is 98 per cent complete in the northeast and northwest regions, 96 per cent in the southwest, and 94 per cent in the east-central and southeast regions. 

Tetland points out that while some crops have experienced heat and drought stress, overall crop development is progressing.

"Thirty-one per cent of the fall cereal crops in the jointing stage, 26 per cent are in the shot blade stage and 12 per cent are in the heading stage, while 46 per cent of the spring cereals are emerging and 40 per cent are tillering, 42 per cent of the canola is emerging and 42 per cent is in the seedling stage, along with 34 per cent of flax being in the seedling stage. Forty-nine per cent of pulse crops are emerging and 43 per cent are in the vegetative stage."

This week's crop report showed reports of insect damage caused by grasshoppers and flea beetles, as well as gophers.

Grasshopper development is ahead of normal with numbers starting to increase in the drier areas of the province mainly the southwest and west central side of the province.

Producers are reminded to keep the economic threshold damage for insects in mind when scouting the crops