Widespread soaking rains across Alberta over the past week helped improve soil moisture reserves and support crop emergence, but also continued to slow the final stages of seeding in parts of the province.
The latest weekly Alberta crop report on Friday showed major crop seeding at 97% complete as of Tuesday, just short of the five-year average of 100%. Seeding is finished in the South and Central regions, while progress stands at 93% in the North East, 95% in the North West and 97% in the Peace. The remaining delays are mostly in northern parts of the North East and North West regions, where repeated rainfall has saturated fields and limited access, the report said.
Crop emergence continues to trail normal despite the improved moisture. Provincially, 80% of major crops have emerged, compared with the five-year average of 88%. The South is the only region running ahead of average, with emergence at 93%, above its five-year average of 89%. Emergence is 92% in the Central region, 73% in the North East, 71% in the North West and 61% in the Peace.
Dry peas are the most advanced crop, with 95% emerged provincially. Spring wheat emergence is at 90%, followed by barley at 83%, canola at 67% and oats at 64%. Canola emergence ranges from 89% in the South to just 47% in the Peace, while oats are also lagging in northern regions.
Cooler temperatures accompanying the rain have slowed crop development, although spring cereals in the South have advanced into the mid- to late-tillering stage. In the North East, North West and Peace, spring cereals are generally between the two-leaf and eight-leaf stages, with development expected to accelerate once temperatures rise.
Surface soil moisture is now rated 85% good to excellent provincially, far above the five-year average of 49%. Another 7% is rated excessive, led by the North West at 19% and the North East at 16%. Sub-surface moisture is also strong, with 79% rated good to excellent, well above the five-year average of 45%.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Emergence is reported at 100 per cent for dry peas, followed by 95 per cent for spring wheat and oats, 93 per cent for barley and 89 per cent for canola.
• Sub-surface moisture is 6 per cent poor, 19 per cent fair, 52 per cent good, 22 per cent excellent, and 1 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 2 per cent poor, 33 per cent fair, 62 per cent good, and 2 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Seeding activities are effectively complete. Crop development continues in moist and cool conditions.
• Emergence is reported at 100 per cent for dry peas, followed by 98 per cent for spring wheat, 91 per cent for barley, 89 per cent for oats and 82 per cent for canola.
• Sub-surface moisture is 2 per cent poor, 15 per cent fair, 70 per cent good, 10 per cent excellent, and 3 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 6 per cent poor, 37 per cent fair, 52 per cent good, and 4 per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Ongoing rainfall continues to limit seeding progress. The acres remaining to be seeded are predominantly in the northern areas of the region, where progress is behind the region average by up to 20 per cent.
• Crop emergence for dry peas is at 96 per cent, spring wheat at 88 per cent, barley at 66 per cent, canola at 60 per cent and oats at 57 per cent. • Sub-surface moisture is 2 per cent poor, 14 per cent fair, 36 per cent good, 38 per cent excellent, and 10 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 1 per cent poor, 9 per cent fair, 65 per cent good, and 25 per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Excess moisture continues to limit seeding progress, with northern areas of the region up to 20 per cent behind the average.
• Emergence of dry peas is 94 per cent, spring wheat 84 per cent, barley 71 per cent, oats 66 per cent, and canola 60 per cent.
• Sub-surface moisture is 0 per cent poor, 16 per cent fair, 52 per cent good, 31 per cent excellent, and 2 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 1 per cent poor, 15 per cent fair, 53 per cent good, and 31 per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Emergence of spring wheat is 77 per cent, dry peas 75 per cent, barley 63 per cent, oats 59 per cent and canola 47 per cent.
• Sub-surface moisture is 0 per cent poor, 5 per cent fair, 60 per cent good, 35 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Conditions of tame hay are reported as 26 per cent poor, 38 per cent fair, 31 per cent good, and 5 per cent excellent.
