Spring seeding is just around the corner for farmers in the Airdrie area and according to a Crop Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, soil moisture conditions are ideal for the process to begin.

Neil Whatley said that over the winter, and in recent days, Airdrie has received good moisture.  

"There's been a near normal amount of precipitation over the winter.   Over the last three weeks, the precipitation in general in the Airdrie area has been moderately higher than normal in comparison with long term normals."

Whatley said moisture reserves in the area are also very good.

"Soil moisture reserves are important this time of the year for seeding.  The government of Alberta's Airdrie weather station says that soil moisture reserves are near normal down to a depth of four feet, so there's some good moisture there."

Another factor is the soil temperature and the same station said things are looking good there as well.  

"The soil temperature today is seven degrees Celsius at a two inch depth and five degrees Celsius at an eight inch depth," according to Whatley.

Great crop conditions are a combination of soil reserves and what we'll get from this point on said Whatley.  

"It's a combination of the two.  There's going to be some wind here shortly and that will extract some moisture out of the soil surface but it looks like you've got good moisture reserves to seed into.  We have no idea what's going to happen in the next few weeks but even if it stays dry it'll be okay for germination of the seed."

Whatley said farmers south of Lethbridge have already started seeding.  Around Airdrie they'll be going soon.  

"The first week of May is good.  So many growers have so many acres now it's nice to get going in the first week of May if possible."

 

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