Warm, dry weather allowed Alberta seeding to advance to near half complete this past week, well ahead of the typical pace.
Friday’s crop report showed the seeding of major crops (spring wheat, barley, oats, canola, and peas) at 47% complete as of Tuesday. That is up a major 27 points from a week earlier and easily tops the five- and 10-year averages of 26% and 29%.
Significant precipitation did slow seeding in the Central, North East, and North West regions just prior to the end of the weekly reporting period, but the South and Peace regions saw just scattered and/or limited showers.
The seeding of major crops is most advanced in the South Region at 76% complete, followed by the Central at 51%, the North East at 37%, the North West at 29% and the Peace at 27%.
Across the province, spring wheat was 66% seeded as of Tuesday, with barley and oats at 49% and 17%, respectively. Canola was 24% seeded and dry peas 74%.
Emergence of major crops across the province is reported at 10%, ahead of the 5-year average of 3% and the 10-year average of 4%.
Recent precipitation improved surface soil moisture ratings in the Central and North East regions. Surface soil moisture in the Central Region was reported at 85% good to excellent as of Tuesday, up 20 points on the week. North East surface soil moisture, at 45% good to excellent, improved 13 points. On the other hand, South Region moisture dropped 2 points to 50% good to excellent and the Peace Region fell 11 points to 56%. Surface soil moisture for the North West was unchanged at 41%.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Seeding of major crops is 76 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 48 per cent.
• Emergence is reported at 18 per cent for both spring wheat and barley, followed by 17 per cent for dry peas, 9 per cent for oats, and 8 per cent for canola.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 7 per cent poor, 48 per cent fair, 42 per cent good, 3 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 13 per cent poor, 39 per cent fair, 46 per cent good, and 3 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• The seeding progress for major crops is 51 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 26 per cent.
• Spring wheat leads emergence at 34 per cent, while barley is at 21 per cent, dry peas are at 19 per cent, and both canola and oats are at 1 per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 7 per cent poor, 29 per cent fair, 58 per cent good, 7 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 5 per cent poor, 21 per cent fair, 71 per cent good, and 3 per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Major crops seeding progress is 37 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 14 per cent.
• Dry peas are leading emergence in the region at 13 per cent, with spring wheat at 6 per cent, and barley at 1 per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 13 per cent poor, 47 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, 1 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 11 per cent poor, 48 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, and 1 per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Seeding progress for major crops is 29 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 14 per cent.
• Spring wheat has the most advanced emergence at 10 per cent, with barley at 8 per cent and dry peas at 6 per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 8 per cent poor, 41 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, 12 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 2 per cent poor, 18 per cent fair, 75 per cent good, and 6 per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Major crops seeding progress is 27 per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 19 per cent.
• Emergence stands at 8 per cent for spring wheat, 3 per cent for dry peas, and 2 per cent for both barley and oats.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 3 per cent poor, 27 per cent fair, 63 per cent good, 7 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 20 per cent poor, 39 per cent fair, 37 per cent good, and 4 per cent excellent.
