Peace (B.C. and Alberta): Seeding is near 90% complete in some eastern regions, but conditions are dry. North and far north regions are 20% to 25% complete, but have good moisture. Central Peace is 50% done at most. The west, in general, has more moisture. Seeding is about half done, but growers are holding off waiting for warmer weather. Look at this Environment Canada map to see how dry the Peace is compared to the rest of the Prairies: Precipitation-spring 2010 percent of normal.pdf

Alberta: Many growers in the south think they’re late. Moisture, including more snow, has been the hold up. Generally, about 10% of intended canola acres have been seeded.
The east central area around Coronation and Castor had up to 6 inches of rain equivalent precipitation in the past month, turning around the moisture situation. Growers are optimistic. Seeding will be in full swing next week.
Central regions are mixed, with seeding near 50% complete northwest of Edmonton. But this area, particularly around Barrhead and Mayerthorpe, is one that could use more moisture. To see how much rain has fallen, look at this map from Environment Canada:Precipitation – spring 2010 total mm.pdf Click to read the Alberta crop report.

Saskatchewan: More rain accumulated this week, ranging from a few tenths in many areas up to a few inches in the Moosomin area. Across the whole province, 99% of fields have good or surplus moisture. Seeding is furthest along in the northwest and the far northeast regions, but still only at 5% to 10%. With good conditions and forecast highs in the low 20s all week, seeded acres in all regions will jump considerably this week. To see how much rain has fallen, look at this map from Environment Canada: Precipitation – spring 2010 total mm.pdf Click to read the Saskatchewan crop report.

Manitoba: Canola seeding did not advance much over the past week. Fields were drying out from the week before, and some regions got more showers. Northwest is less than 5% seeded, southwest and west central is 10 to 20%, while progress in eastern and Interlake regions is highly variable but more advanced, with up to 50% to 75% of canola acres seeded in some areas. To see how much rain has fallen, look at this map from Environment Canada: Precipitation – spring 2010 total mm.pdf