Alberta crop conditions have not significantly improved over the past two weeks and remain well down from the five- and 10-year averages.
Friday’s crop report pegged the overall condition of all crops across the province at 45% good to excellent as of Tuesday, up a modest 2 points from the June 13 rating. The rating sits well below 75% good to excellent a year ago, and 29 and 27 points below the five- and 10-year averages.
The spring wheat and durum crops were rated 45% and 47% good to excellent as of Tuesday, versus 42% and 63% two weeks earlier, while the canola crop came in at 43% good to excellent – a modest 3-point improvement.
At 40% and 49% good to excellent, the condition of the oat and barley crops were up 4 and 2 points, respectively.
The condition of the pea crop was down 2 points from two weeks earlier at 51% good to excellent, with flax down 12 points at 46%, peas down 2 points at 51%, and chickpeas down 9 points at 60%. The lentil crop dropped to 52% good to excellent from 71%, and mustard tumbled all the way to 38% good to excellent from 60%.
The Peace Region retains the highest proportion of crops rated in good to excellent condition at 60%, with the North East region close behind at 58%, followed by the South region at 42%, the Central region at 32% and the North West at 31%.
A patchwork of rain fell across Alberta this past week, increasing crop variability throughout the province, the report said. The rains were welcomed in those areas that received them, but portions of the South, Central, and Peace regions missed out on significant amounts and report a need for further moisture. On the other hand, flooding concerns were noted in some areas of the North West region.
Surface soil moisture across the province was rated about 20% poor and 15% excellent as of Tuesday, compared to 13% and 19% a week earlier.
For crop staging, most spring cereals are reported as either booting or near the end of stem elongation in all regions, except the South which is reporting widespread head emergence. Provincially, 22% of the canola crop was reported to have begun flowering, ahead of the five-year and 10-year averages of 7% and 11%, respectively. The provincial proportion of dry peas flowering is reported at 34%, which is ahead of the 9% five-year average and the 19% 10-year average.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
Crops rated in good to excellent condition are 37 per cent for major crops and 42 per cent for all crops with potatoes, dry beans, sugar beets, spring triticale, chickpeas and lentils all rating above 50 per cent. Respondents noted pressures from grasshoppers, flea beetles and gophers.
Moisture is reported as variable across the region with all regions hoping for more rainfall. Soil surface (sub-surface) moisture reported at 32 (32) per cent poor, 43 (42) per cent fair, 24 (24) per cent good, 1 (2) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
Spring cereal crop development ranges from early booting to early flowering, with the most common stage being head emergence.
Canola crop development is reported as ranging from leaf development to flowering, with the most responses reporting crop as bolting.
First-cut hay progress is reported at 33 per cent for dryland and 38 per cent for irrigation.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
The proportion of crops rated in good to excellent condition is 32 per cent for major crops and 32 per cent for all crops with lentils noted above 50 per cent. Respondents noted pressure from grasshoppers, flea beetles, army cutworms and gophers.
Areas in the region which received significant rain are reporting improvement in crop growth; however, most areas of the region reported that further rain is needed. Regional surface (sub-surface) moisture is reported as 22 (22) per cent poor, 32 (37) per cent fair, 21 (19) per cent good, 23 (21) per cent excellent and 3 (1) per cent excessive.
Spring cereal crop development ranges from early stem elongation to early flowering, with the greatest variation reported in durum wheat. The most common stage for spring cereals is early to middle booting.
Canola crop development is reported as ranging from leaf development to podding, with the most responses reporting crop as bolting.
Progress on the first cut of hay is reported as 46 per cent for dryland and 5 per cent for irrigation.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
Survey reports put the proportion of crop at good to excellent conditions at 58 per cent for both major crops and all crops, with spring wheat, barley, oats, canola, dry peas and flax noted above 50 per cent. Respondents noted pressure from army cutworms and gophers.
Significant rain events were reported across the region. Regional surface (sub-surface) moisture is reported as 9 (22) per cent poor, 28 (35) per cent fair, 49 (37) per cent good, 12 (5) per cent excellent and 1 (1) per cent excessive.
Spring cereal crop development ranges from early stem elongation to late head emergence, with the majority of crop reported as in the booting stages.
Canola crop development is reported as ranging from leaf development to flowering, with the most responses reporting crop as bolting.
First-cut dryland hay is reported as 15 per cent complete.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
Crops reported as in good to excellent condition are 30 per cent of major crops and 31 per cent of all crops, with fall rye and potatoes noted as above 50 per cent. Respondents noted pressure from grasshoppers, army cutworms and gophers.
Respondents noted recent rainfall has resulted in regional flooding events which will impact some crops. Regional surface (sub-surface) moisture is reported as 9 (17) per cent poor, 33 (45) per cent fair, 32 (31) per cent good, 18 (7) per cent excellent and 8 (0) per cent excessive.
Spring cereal crop progress ranges from stem elongation through early emergence, with most at early booting.
Canola crop development is reported as ranging from leaf development to flowering, with the most responses reporting crop as bolting.
First-cut dryland hay is reported as 34 per cent complete.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
Good to excellent rated crop is reported as 60 per cent per cent for all crops, as only major crops were reported, which were all reported above 50 per cent. Respondents noted army cutworm pressure.
Respondents noted recent rainfall or showers over most of the region. Regional surface (sub-surface) moisture is reported as 8 (9) per cent poor, 22 (27) per cent fair, 34 (31) per cent good, 34 (32) per cent excellent and 2 (0) per cent excessive.
Spring cereal crop development ranges from late tillering to late head emergence, with the majority of the crop reported to be at late stem elongation.
Canola crop development is reported as ranging from leaf development to flowering, with the most responses reporting crop as bolting.
First-cut dryland hay is reported to be 20 per cent complete.
