As of June 30, crop development in the North West Region is progressing more slowly in high moisture areas, with farm operations continuing as weather permits.
That’s according to the latest crop report by the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta.
Spring cereals are in early stem elongation, fall cereals are in late flowering, canola is a near-even split between the four- to six-leaf stage and the rosette stage and pea crops are mainly at the seven- to 12-node stage with some areas starting to flower.
The report also says sub-surface moisture is zero per cent poor, zero per cent fair, 24 per cent good, 50 per cent excellent, and 27 per cent excessive.
Tame hay conditions are reported as one per cent poor, 22 per cent fair, 58 per cent good and 20 per cent excellent.
The AFSC says frequent rainfall, varying temperatures and short windows for field operations continued across Alberta through the end of June. While crop development is supported by moisture reserves well above average for this time of year, there are some concerns around the pace of crop development. Despite these challenges, crops are responding quickly to the improved growing conditions with rapid crop advancement in areas with warmer temperatures. Overall, the report indicates crop development continues to move forward, although maturity remains variable across the province depending on local conditions.
Provincial ratings for the conditions of all crops remain within averages, as 68 per cent of all crops are rated as good-to-excellent. This week’s rating is near the long-term trend at three per cent above the five-year average and three per cent below the 10-year average.
Good-to-excellent conditions for major crops are regionally variable, with the Central Region leading at 83 per cent, followed by the South at 82 per cent, the Peace at 57 per cent and the North East at 55 per cent. Major crop conditions in the North West Region are notably lower at 38 per cent rated good-to-excellent.
Provincial crop staging remains varied, with all crops reportedly further ahead in the southern regions than in the northern regions, reflecting the difference in seeding progress at the start of the year. Overall, provincial crop development is currently behind long-term trends.
Provincial spring cereal development ranges from mid-tillering to early booting, where the cereal head develops within the main stem. The majority of the spring cereal crop is in the stem elongation stage, behind the five-year and 10-year average of the early booting stage.
Canola staging is varied at this time, with 44 per cent of the provincial crop staging in the four- to six-leaf stage. At 49 per cent, the majority of the canola crop has moved to the rosette stage where canola grows the circular cluster of leaves at the plant base. This is slightly behind the five-year and 10-year averages of 55 and 56 per cent of the crop being at the rosette stage. The per cent of provincial canola currently flowering is seven per cent, less than the five-year average of 21 per cent and 10-year average of 15 per cent.
Meantime, 70 per cent of the dry pea crop is reported as being at the seven- to 12-node stage, which is above the five-year average of 63 per cent and 10-year average of 64 per cent. Dry pea flowering has begun in 14 per cent of the provincial dry pea crops, which is behind the five-year average of 28 per cent and 10-year average of 22 per cent.
The government says surface moisture good-to-excellent ratings across the province were reported as 79 per cent, which is well above the five-year average of 58 per cent and the 10-year average of 65 per cent.
Regional surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings (change from the previous week) are reported as 82 (+13) per cent in the South Region, 90 (+4) per cent for the Central Region, 74 (-3) per cent for the North East Region, 45 (-2) per cent for the North West Region and 86 (zero) per cent for the Peace Region.
The report also says provincial sub-surface moisture good-to-excellent ratings were reported as 82 per cent, which is well above the five-year average of 51 per cent and the 10-year average of 60 per cent.
Regional sub-surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are reported as 74 (+7) per cent in the South Region, 90 (+5) per cent for the Central Region, 79 (-1) per cent for the North East Region, 74 (-5) per cent for the North West Region and 97 (zero) per cent for the Peace Region.
Pasture conditions remain variable across the province, impacted by seasonal rainfall and weather. Currently, provincial pasture conditions are rated at 79 per cent good-to-excellent.
Regionally, pastures rated good-to-excellent (compared to the previous week’s ratings) are as follows: South at 71 per cent (+5), Central at 94 per cent (+6), North East at 78 per cent (-17), North West at 76 per cent (+2) and Peace at 47 per cent (-1). Provincially, most regions are above the five-year average for pasture conditions with the exception of the Peace Region, which is slightly below the five-year average of 49 per cent.
Dryland hay first cut has begun across the province. The AFSC says first cut dryland hay is two per cent complete, with provincial yields reportedly averaging 1.6 tons per acre. Dryland hay quality is rated at 49 per cent good-to-excellent. Irrigated hay first cut is 27 per cent complete in the South Region. Estimated yields are 2.2 tons per acre with 65 per cent rated as in a good-to-excellent condition.
The North West Region includes Drayton Valley, Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc and Athabasca.
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