The provincial crops extension specialist says this week’s precipitation is important for improving soil moisture.

Rain and snow has fallen overnight but amounts vary across the grainbelt.

Saskatchewan agriculture crops extension specialist Matt Struthers says any moisture is welcome after a year of drought.

Struthers says farmland needs precipitation before freeze-up to enable the soil to absorb as much as possible.

He says topsoil moisture last week was rated 12 percent adequate, 43 percent short and 45 percent very short.

The final crop report of the year reflected the impact of drought on Saskatchewan crops.

Spring wheat yields ranged from 34 to 37 bushels an acre in the eastern grainbelt and 15 to 19 bushels in the southwest and west central Saskatchewan.

For canola, yields ranged from 22 to 27 bushels an acre in eastern Saskatchewan and 14 to 15 bushels in the southwest and west central grainbelt.