As of May 5, seeding progress in the North West Region is slightly behind at zero per cent complete, compared to the five-year average of three per cent.
That’s according to the latest crop report from the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta.
The report says unseasonably cool and snowy conditions persisted through April. While the additional moisture was welcome, persistent cool conditions resulted in a later start to seeding across the province.
Seeding has progressed the furthest in the South and Central Regions as fields dried through April. In the North East and North West Regions, snow melt is ongoing and seeding is expected to start promptly.
Seeding progress for all crops by region (five-year average) is reported at 26 (37) per cent in the South Region, four (12) per cent in the Central Region, zero (three) per cent in the North East Region and zero (six) per cent in the Peace Region.
The North West Region is reporting the poorest conditions for fall-seeded crops at three per cent poor, 67 per cent fair, 30 per cent good and zero per cent excellent.
Provincially, fall seeded crops reported in good to excellent condition are 67 per cent, compared to the five-year average of 65 per cent. Regionally, fall crops in good to excellent condition (five-year average) are 74 (70) per cent in the South Region, 70 (78) per cent in the Central Region and 69 (65) per cent in the North East Region. No reports were received for the Peace Region.
The AFSC says late snow melt is resulting in a greater area reporting soil water erosion than in previous years and a lower area than normal reporting soil wind erosion.
Provincial soil erosion due to water runoff (five-year average) is 37 (41) per cent none, 32 (54) per cent light, 29 (six) per cent moderate and two (zero) per cent heavy. Provincial soil erosion due to winds (five-year average) is 22 (28) per cent none, 65 (55) per cent light, 13 (17) per cent moderate and zero (one) per cent heavy.
According to the report, this late spring precipitation did support soil moisture conditions across the province, with surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture) rated at 68 (60) per cent good to excellent.
Regional moisture conditions are at 67 (50) per cent in the South Region, 74 (66) per cent in the Central Region, 74 (56) per cent in the North East Region, 48 (55) per cent in the North West Region and 60 (85) per cent in the Peace Region.
Sub-surface moisture in the North West Region is two per cent poor, 38 per cent fair, 24 per cent good, 31 per cent excellent and six per cent excessive.
Meantime, growth conditions for pasture and tame hay are favorable in the South, Central and North West Regions, while cool temperatures in the North East and Peace Regions have limited growth.
Pasture growth for the province is rated 61 per cent good to excellent, while tame hay is rated 55 per cent good to excellent. The report says the percentage of producers with adequate to surplus forage is 67 per cent, with 76 per cent having adequate to surplus feed grain supplies. These values are lower than the respective five-year averages of 71 and 77 per cent, due to delayed pasture access in the Northern regions.
In the North West Region, tame hay conditions are reported as 10 per cent poor, 28 per cent fair, 62 per cent good, and zero per cent excellent.
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