Alberta Crop Report: June 30

Canola crop development is reported as ranging from leaf development to podding, with the most responses reporting crop as bolting.

Progress on the first cut of hay is reported as 46 per cent for dryland and 5 per cent for irrigation.

Over the last week, a patchwork of rain fell across Alberta increasing the crop variability throughout the province. Thunderstorm activity has been widespread, and some areas may have received more rain than initially thought. While these rains were welcomed by survey respondents, portions of the dry areas in the South, Central, and Peace regions missed out on significant rainfalls and report a need for further moisture. Flooding concerns were noted in some areas of the North West region.

As of June 27, provincial crop conditions for all crops are reported at 45 per cent good to excellent, which is 29 per cent below the five-year average and 27 per cent below the 10-year average. The Peace Region retains the highest per cent of crops rated in good to excellent condition at 60 per cent, with the North East region reporting a slightly lower 58 per cent, followed by the South region at 42 per cent, the Central region at 32 per cent and the North West at 31 per cent.

The reported condition for all crops is described as a slight improvement over the condition reported on June 13 (the last full report date) with notable improvements in ratings for the major crops of spring wheat, barley, oats and canola. For crop staging, most spring cereals are reported as either booting or near the end of stem elongation in all regions, except the South which is reporting widespread head emergence.

Provincially, 22 per cent of the canola crop was reported to have begun flowering, ahead of the five-year and 10-year averages of seven per cent and 11 per cent, respectively. Regional canola flowering is reported at 24 per cent in the South, 26 per cent Central, 21 per cent North East, 13 per cent North West and 26 per cent in the Peace. The provincial proportion of dry peas flowering is reported at 34 per cent, which is ahead of the nine per cent five-year average and 19 per cent 10-year average. Regional reports of pea crop flowering are 31 per cent in the South, 48 per cent Central, 42 per cent North East, 26 per cent North West and 22 per cent in the Peace.

Significant rainfall through June has improved soil moisture ratings in all regions, despite a decrease in ratings since last week. Provincial surface soil moisture (zero to six inches) is rated (with 10-year average in brackets) at 20 (10) per cent poor, 34 (20) per cent fair, 30 (44) per cent good, 15 (22) per cent excellent and 2 (4) per cent excessive, with sub-surface moisture (below six inches) rated at 23 (10) per cent poor, 38 (24) per cent fair, 27 (44) per cent good, 12 (19) per cent excellent and less than 1 (3) per cent excessive.

The first cut of hay is reported to have begun in all regions of the province. Provincial tame hay growth (10-year average) is reported at 28 (11) per cent poor, 37 (24) per cent fair, 30 (49) per cent good and 5 (16) per cent excellent. Provincial pasture growth (10-year average) is reported as 29 (12) per cent poor, 35 (25) per cent fair, 34 (50) per cent good and 2 (13) per cent excellent.

by rdnewsNOW staff

Alberta Crop Report: June 30

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