Snowfall on Sunday and Monday ranged between 10 and 20 centimetres across the central and northern grainbelt, with Saskatoon receiving 18 centimetres, or about seven inches.

A lot more snow is required to improve the well below normal spring runoff projections, but Nutrien senior agronomist Lyle Cowell says every little bit helps.

While the runoff situation is a big concern—in most areas, topsoil moisture levels going into November 2023 were a bit better than they were at the same time in 2022.

The 2024 growing season will require regular rain to replenish dry soil moisture conditions across much of the Prairies.

Lyle  Cowell spoke Tuesday afternoon at the Top Crop Summit in Saskatoon. You can listen to a longer interview below. Cowell refers to fall topsoil moisture maps prepared each November by Les Henry, a retired soil science professor and extension specialist at the University of Saskatchewan.