Planting has essentially wrapped up in Alberta, but most of the province could now use a good rain.
The latest weekly crop report on Friday pegged the seeding of all crops at 97% complete as of Tuesday. However, surface soil moisture is now rated 65% poor to fair, an increase of 18 points on the week, while the good to excellent rating dropped to 34% from 52% a week earlier. The Peace is the only region that had surface soil moisture rated above 50% good to excellent, at 71%.
Provincially, emergence is ahead of the five-year average at 76% for all crops. Dry peas (90%) and spring wheat (86%) are furthest along in total emergence for major crops. Oats (67% emerged) and canola (67% emerged) are both ahead of their five-year averages of 44% and 53%, respectively. Emergence in the South, Central and North East Regions are only slightly ahead of their five-year averages, whereas the North West and Peace Region are 32 and 36 points ahead of their five-year averages, respectively.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Seeding is virtually complete for most crops in the South region, with the exception of corn (85 per cent complete) and dry beans (90 per cent complete). The overall progress is slightly ahead of the respective 5-year and 10-year averages.
• Crop progress has moved along quickly with the hot weather and light showers. Emergence for major crops is at 78 per cent which is ahead of the 5-year average (72 per cent) and the 10-year average (75 per cent).
• There have been a few fields re-seeded for spring crops due to grasshopper, wireworm, and cutworm damage. As well, spraying for grasshoppers and flea beetles is active, where high numbers are present after their peak year in 2022.
• Scattered showers have not been enough to improve soil moisture reserves. Surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) is rated at 21 (22) per cent poor, 53 (34) per cent fair, 23 (41) per cent good, 3 (3) per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Seeding is near completion in the Central Region at 96 per cent of major crops complete, 2 per cent behind the 5-year average.
• Growing conditions are dry and plants have started to show signs of stress. Emergence for major crops is 75 per cent, 9 per cent ahead of the 5-year average and 10 per cent ahead of the 10-year average.
• Spraying has begun in most areas around the region as flea beetles are becoming a potential threat and there has been some grasshopper damage in the southern part of the region as well.
• The limited rain received has been enough to keep crops alive in the Central Region, however soil moisture conditions decreased over the past week, as more precipitation is needed. Currently, surface soil moisture reserves (sub-surface soil moisture reserves) are rated as 24 (32) per cent poor, 42 (41) per cent fair, 34 (27) per cent good, 0 (0) per cent excellent or excessive.
• Hay crops and some pastures are showing signs of growth regression, while some areas are holding on quite well. Currently, pasture (tame hay in brackets) is rated as 19 (19) per cent poor, 29 (34) per cent fair, 52 (47) per cent good 0 (0) per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Seeding is practically complete, and crop emergence is progressing although some canola is sitting in dry soil and unable to germinate until a quality rain arrives. Seeding progress is at 98 per cent, 2 per cent ahead of the 5-year average and 5 per cent ahead of the 10-year average. Emergence is at 77 per cent for all crops, 10 per cent ahead of the 5-year average, and 12 per cent ahead of the 10-year average.
• Flea beetles, cutworms and grasshoppers are beginning to show themselves in the forage and annual crops. Cutworm damage has resulted in some re-seeding, while other fields have been sprayed. Most spraying is delayed as producers do not want to add extra stress to crops.
• There have been a few showers around the region, but any moisture attained has been reported to be absorbed quickly and conditions remain dry. The surface soil moisture reserves (sub-surface soil moisture) are rated as 23 (15) per cent poor, 42 (40) per cent fair, 34 (43) per cent good, 1 (2) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Pasture conditions (tame hay conditions in brackets) are rated as 25 (32) per cent poor, 31 (36) per cent fair, 43 (33) per cent good and 1 (0) per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Seeding is 97 per cent complete in the region, 3 per cent ahead of the 5- and 10-year averages. Emergence is currently at 79 per cent for all crops which is 32 per cent ahead of the 5-year average and 25 per cent ahead of the 10-year average.
• Pests are reported as minor, with some flea beetle and gopher damage. There has been a small amount of reseeding due to cutworms or washouts. Some producers are reporting delayed spraying for weed control, to minimize stress to the crops.
• A mixture of rain and hail has not improved overall soil conditions over the past week and has created some crusting issues, resulting in canola with spotty emergence. Currently, surface soil moisture conditions are rated as 34 (14) per cent poor, 44 (58) per cent fair, 19 (28) per cent good, 3 (0) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Hay and pasture development is still behind and showing stress from the heat. Pasture specifically is struggling, while tame hay is managing due to deep tap roots. Pasture conditions (tame hay conditions in brackets) are rated as 31 (28) per cent poor, 51 (44) per cent fair, 18 (27) per cent good and 0 (1) per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Seeding of all crops is 94 per cent complete, 5 per cent ahead of the 5-year average and 4 per cent ahead of the 10-year average.
• Emergence is at 78 per cent for all crops in the Peace Region, 36 per cent ahead of the 5-year average and 29 per cent ahead of the 10-year average.
• While some areas of the Peace saw showers that helped emergence, soil moisture conditions still decreased. Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) is rated at 6 (7) per cent poor, 20 (26) per cent fair, 44 (48) per cent good, 27 (19) per cent excellent, and 3 (1) per cent excessive.
• Pasture conditions (tame hay conditions in brackets) were rated as 11 (11) per cent poor, 41 (41) per cent fair, 38 (38) per cent good and 10 (10) per cent excellent.
