(rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Conditions As Of May 28, 2024

Alberta Crop Report: May 31

May 31, 2024 | 4:04 PM

Scattered showers throughout the central Alberta region delayed seeding over the past week and in some low areas, cool evenings resulted in frost.

According to the latest Crop Report from Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation (AGI) in partnership with Agriculture Financial Services Corporastion (AFSC), seeding progress is behind the 5-year average of 89 per cent at 76 per cent complete.

Officials say pasture conditions have improved due to rain around the region, but some areas still look behind due to over-grazing during the last two summers. Tame hay (5-year average) conditions are rated as 2 (13) per cent poor, 13 (21) per cent fair, 83 (61) per cent good and 2 (5) per cent excellent. Surface soil (sub-surface) moisture conditions are rated 1 (5) per cent poor, 19 (28) per cent fair, 55 (61) per cent good, 25 (6) per cent excellent, 0 (0) per cent excessive.

Elsewhere, scattered light showers across the province continued with the majority of the Alberta receiving at least a few millimeters, whereas areas along the west side of the North West and Central Regions received up to 30-40 mm. Officials note that short seeding delays occurred but provincial seeding progressed 20 per cent to 77 per cent complete, which is below the 5-year average of 84 per cent. The report indicates the most advanced regions are the Peace Region at 86 per cent complete and the South Region at 84 per cent complete. The North East and North West Region have the most left to seed with 71 and 72 per cent complete, respectively. Officials say the emergence of major crops doubled over the last week to 40 per cent emerged. Despite concerns that the cool wet weather is delaying crop progress, emergence is described as marginally ahead of the 5- and 10-year averages. As well, growth stages of provincial cereals are on track with their historical averages.

Surface soil moisture conditions declined slightly across the province despite light showers in many regions, however, they remained above the 5- and 10-year averages. Officials say surface soil moisture rated good to excellent is the highest in the North East at 91 per cent and the North West at 82 per cent. The lowest conditions were in the Peace Region at 64 per cent good to excellent. Over the past week, conditions declined by 5 per cent in the South to 71 per cent, 2 per cent to 80 per cent in the Central, 5 per cent to 82 per cent in the North West and 6 per cent to 64 per cent in the Peace. The only region that had an increase was the North East Region, up 1 per cent to 91 per cent good to excellent.

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The report also shows sub-surface soil moisture conditions were quite stable across the province, though there were small decreases in the Peace Region and small increases in the Central Region. Provincial conditions rated good to excellent were stable at 66 per cent. Regional sub-surface soil moisture conditions (per cent rated on May 21, 2024) rated good to excellent were 55 (54) in the South Region, 67 (64) per cent in the Central Region, 78 (78) per cent in the North East, 65 (65) in the North West and 82 (87) per cent in the Peace Region. While surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions were quite stable in most regions, officials say the drier week allowed seeding to progress, crops to grow and moisture conditions are still ahead of their historical averages.

The report further notes that provincial pasture and tame hay conditions rated good to excellent and increased 2 per cent to 70 per cent, and 3 per cent to 68 per cent, respectively. According to the report, all regional pasture ratings improved except for the North West Region which decreased 4 per cent to 73 per cent good to excellent but is still more than 25 per cent above both historical averages. Pastures across the province were reported to be improving after recent rains and are having cattle turned out on them soon. Tame hay growth conditions were reported to improve in all regions except the North West. As of May 28, tame hay conditions (last week’s rating) were rated 65 (58) per cent in the South Region, 85 (82) per cent in the Central Region, 64 (59) in the North East Region 76 (80) in the North West and 41 (40) in the Peace Region. Officials say all regional tame hay ratings, except the Peace, are currently rated above their historical averages.

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