Rain slowed spring seeding in Alberta this past week, although progress continues to remain well ahead of normal.
Friday’s weekly crop report showed the planting of all crops at 73% complete as of Tuesday, versus the five- and 10-year averages of 59% and 60%, respectively. The previous week’s report pegged the planting of major crops in the province (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola and peas) at 47% done.
Seeding is the most advanced in the South Region at 87% complete, followed by the Central and North West regions at 72%. The North East was 64% done as of Tuesday. Progress was particularly fast in the Peace this past week, with seeding advancing 34 points to 61% done.
Despite the negative impact on fieldwork, the report said scattered precipitation across the province has improved soil moisture in many areas. Some parts of the Central Region reported up to 3 inches of rain this past week. Surface moisture conditions have improved across all regions, and sub-surface soil moisture has also shown increases in most areas, “suggesting that recent rainfall is starting to penetrate deeper into the soil,” the report said.
Provincially, surface moisture conditions were rated 5% poor, 31% fair, 54% good, 10% excellent, and 0% excessive as of Tuesday, compared to 6% poor, 35% fair, 52% good, 7% excellent and 0% excessive the previous week.
Almost one-third (32%) of all crops in the province were reported emerged as of Tuesday, well ahead of just 16% for the five-year average.
Emergence is furthest ahead in the South and Central regions among major crops, with over 45% of spring wheat and peas having emerged. Barley is at 47% in the South, while other regions, including the North East, North West and Peace, are below 20%. Canola and oats remain under 30% in all regions. Cooler conditions and frost in the North East and North West have delayed emergence, with many fields under 25%.
“Overall, soil moisture conditions are generally favourable for crop emergence and early growth across most areas,” the report said.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Seeding for all crops is 87 per cent complete, ahead of 5- and 10-year averages of 74 and 76 per cent, though seeding in some fields was delayed by scattered winds.
• Surface moisture improved with cool, wet weather and is rated at 7 per cent poor, 39 per cent fair, 46 per cent good, 7 per cent excellent, and 1 per cent excessive. Sub-surface moisture remains steady.
• Pasture (tame hay) conditions have improved, with rates of 11 (11) per cent poor, 34 (34) per cent fair, 51 (50) per cent good and 5 (5) per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Seeding for all crops (major crops) is 72 (73) per cent complete, ahead of the 5-year average of 63 per cent.
• Regular precipitation, with some areas receiving up to 3 inches, has improved soil moisture, with surface (sub-surface) moisture rated 89 (76) per cent good to excellent.
• Pasture (tame hay) condition is reported 2 (2) per cent poor, 14 (14) fair, 75 (71) per cent good, and 9 (13) per cent excellent.
• Fall-seeded crops are rated 1 per cent poor, 4 per cent fair, 74 per cent good and 22 per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Seeding for all crops is 64 per cent complete, up from 6 per cent in the first week, and above the 5- and 10-year averages.
• Moisture conditions are favourable, with surface (sub-surface) moisture rated 3 (10) per cent poor, 43 (46) per cent fair, 49 (43) per cent good, 5 (1) per cent excellent, and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Pasture (tame hay) conditions are reported as 6 (6) per cent poor, 43 (41) per cent fair, 49 (49) per cent good, and 2 (5) per cent excellent.
• Fall-seeded crops are rated 2 per cent poor, 57 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, and 1 per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Seeding for all crops (major crops) are progressing well with 72 (73) per cent complete, ahead of the 5-year average of 44 per cent.
• Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 10 (10) per cent poor, 41 (34) per cent fair, 39 (40) per cent good, 10 (16) per cent excellent, and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Pastures (tame hay) need warmth to improve growth. Conditions are rated 7 (1) per cent poor, 27 (21) per cent fair, 64 (66) per cent good, and 3 (12) per cent excellent.
• Fall-seeded crops are performing well with 0 per cent poor, 24 per cent fair, 59 per cent good, and 17 per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Seeding for all crops progressed to 61 per cent complete and is 16 per cent above the 5-year average.
• Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture conditions are rated 9 (3) per cent poor, 32 (28) per cent fair, 57 (63) per cent good, 3 (6) per cent excellent, and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Pasture (tame hay) conditions are reported as 18 (19) per cent poor, 39 (40) per cent fair, 39 (37) per cent good, and 4 (4) per cent excellent.
