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By rdnewsNOW Staff

Conditions As Of June 21, 2022

Moisture levels improved for local crops but low lying areas waterlogged

Jun 24, 2022 | 2:04 PM

More rain over the past week has improved crop growing conditions across central Alberta, but has also caused some crops in low lying areas to be waterlogged.

According to the latest Crop Report from Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development, and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), about 63 per cent of crops in the region are now rated in good condition with 25 per cent rated as excellent.

Officials say most spring seeded cereals are either at the end of the tillering stage of development or beginning of the stem elongation stage, almost on par with normal.

Soil moisture reserves are variable across the region but compared to a week prior, surface and sub-surface soil moisture reserves improved by nine and eight per cent, respectively. Sub-surface soil moisture is now rated at 3 per cent poor, 19 per cent fair, 38 per cent good and 38 per cent excellent, with 2 per cent excessive.

All forages are said to be progressing nicely with the great amount of moisture they have recently received, although there are fields that were set back by previous dry conditions.

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Pasture growing conditions (tame hay shown in parentheses) are reported as 6 (5) per cent poor, 24 (15) per cent fair, 50 (48) per cent good and 20 (32) per cent excellent.

Last week`s precipitation across the province ended the prolonged 2021 dry conditions, with prevailing wet weather throughout many areas. While the moisture has mostly been welcome, there are many reports of localized overland flooding. More rain is in the forecast to provide additional moisture in the central parts of the province and lesser, but still appreciated moisture to the southern areas.

Spraying has been delayed in some areas, due to excessive rain. Crop conditions continue to improve, with 78 per cent of crops in Alberta now rated in good or excellent condition, close to the five-year average of 79 per cent and the 10-year average of 77 per cent.

Regional growing condition ratings improved from a week ago in all regions. Compared to the regional five-year averages, crop conditions are better than normal in the Central, North West and Peace Regions and are still below normal in the South and North East Regions.

Sub-surface soil moisture reserves, which were significantly depleted, now continue to build. Generally, both surface and subsurface soil moisture reserves improved from a week ago, by five and 12 per cent, respectively. Some fields had flooding, while others could still stand a little more rain. Compared to the long-term normal, soil moisture is still near normal or moderately higher than normal in most parts of the province.

Soil moisture is high in the foothills, east of Calgary and the northern parts of the Peace Region, and low in some parts of the North West Region, with some localized areas in the South and North East Regions.

Provincially, surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture ratings shown in brackets) are now rated as 3 (7) per cent poor, 17 (29) per cent fair, 40 (45) per cent good and 37 (18) per cent excellent, with 3 (1) per cent excessive.

Pasture and tame hay growing conditions improved from the previous report (conditions as of June 14) across the province. Pasture (tame hay ratings shown in brackets) conditions across the province are now reported as 10 (8) per cent poor, 40 (33) per cent fair, 41 (46) per cent good and 9 (13) per cent excellent.