Early seeding is moving at a brisk pace in Alberta, with almost one-quarter of the crop already in the ground as of Tuesday.
Friday’s provincial crop report, the first for the 2025 growing season, showed overall planting at 23% done as of Sunday. That is nearly double the five-year average of 12% and sits well ahead of the 10-year average of 14%.
But the report warned that while early conditions are promising, “timely rainfall in the coming weeks will be crucial to support crop emergence and establishment.”
Spring precipitation has contributed to generally supportive soil moisture conditions across the province, the report said. Provincially, surface soil moisture was rated at 52% good to excellent as of Tuesday, still below the five- and 10-year averages of 58% and 62%. Regionally, surface soil moisture conditions rated as good to excellent are reported at 52 52% in the South, 65% in the Central, 32% in the North East, 41% in the North West, and 67% in the Peace
Planting is the most advanced in the South Region, where 50% of the crop was in the ground as of Tuesday, followed by the Central Region at 22%, the Peace Region at 10%, the North West at 8%, and the North East at 6%.
The Alberta durum crop was 59% planted as of Tuesday, with chickpeas and lentils at 51%, peas at 50%, and mustard at 48%. Spring wheat and barley were 29% and 21% planted, respectively, with flax at 22%. Oats and canola were bringing up the rear at 4% and 5% planted.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is 50 (46) per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 32 (29) per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 5 per cent poor, 44 per cent fair, 47 per cent good, 4 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Reported conditions of fall-seeded crop are 5 per cent poor, 20 per cent fair, 63 per cent good, and 12 per cent excellent.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 4 per cent poor, 39 per cent fair, 56 per cent good, and 2 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is 22 (22) per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 8 (8) per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 13 per cent poor, 35 per cent fair, 50 per cent good, 2 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Reported conditions of fall-seeded crop are 3 per cent poor, 8 per cent fair, 87 per cent good, and 2 per cent excellent.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 8 per cent poor, 21 per cent fair, 67 per cent good, and 4 per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is 6 (6) per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 2 (2) per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 15 per cent poor, 50 per cent fair, 36 per cent good, 0 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Reported conditions of fall-seeded crop are 2 per cent poor, 48 per cent fair, 50 per cent good, and 0 per cent excellent.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 4 per cent poor, 41 per cent fair, 53 per cent good, and 2 per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is 8 (8) per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 2 (2) per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 6 per cent poor, 40 per cent fair, 45 per cent good, 9 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Reported conditions of fall-seeded crop are 0 per cent poor, 40 per cent fair, 58 per cent good, and 2 per cent excellent.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 2 per cent poor, 24 per cent fair, 72 per cent good, and 2 per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is 10 (10) per cent complete, compared to the 5-year average of 4 (4) per cent.
• Reported sub-surface moisture is 3 per cent poor, 17 per cent fair, 57 per cent good, 23 per cent excellent, and 1 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 22 per cent poor, 39 per cent fair, 36 per cent good, and 3 per cent excellent
