While the snow may be a curse for those shovelling or navigating roads, it’s a blessing for farmers and ranchers.
Dugouts, pastures and crop land are in need of moisture following a dry 2017.
“We used all of our available subsoil moisture growing last year’s crop,” says Rob Stone, a farmer from the Davidson area. “Any amount we get now is good. I’m not sure how much will run off or goes into the soil, depending on how the melt goes. It does make you a little more confident heading into the next 30 or 60 days.”
Todd Lewis farms near Regina and is President of the Agricultural Producers Association of Saskatchewan (APAS). He says dugouts in the driest areas will need the runoff.
“Farmers and ranchers in a lot of southern Saskatchewan are looking for some surface water to fill up some dugouts and hopefully have a little bit of water for cattle and sprayer use coming into the spring.”
Environment Canada has issued a preliminary summary of total snowfall accumulations as of 10am on Monday morning. A final update will be issued on Tuesday. Higher snowfall amounts are expected in most areas, especially in southern and eastern regions where totals could eventually reach or surpass 40 centimetres.
Snowfall amounts as of 10 am Monday
Melville 33 centimetres
Wynyard 30 centimetres
Balgonie 25 centimetres
Delisle 23 centimetres
Moosomin 20 centimetres
Hudson Bay 15-20 centimetres
Melfort 15-20 centimetres.
North Battleford 15 centimetres
Saskatoon 15 centimetres
Estevan 10 to 20 centimetres
Regina 10 to 20 centimetres
Yorkton 10 to 20 centimetres