(rdnewsNOW/Sheldon Spackman)

By AFSC/Government of Alberta

Conditions As Of July 9, 2024

Alberta Crop Report: July 12

Jul 12, 2024 | 2:37 PM

Producers in central Alberta have been spraying fungicide during cooler temperature windows over the past week, and crop development is progressing smoothly due to the recent heat.

Spring cereal crop development ranges from early booting to head emergence. Central major crop conditions is matching the South Region with good to excellent ratings reported at 77 per cent. Detailed regional ratings are 1 per cent poor, 22 per cent fair, 66 per cent good and 11 per cent excellent.

Crops are generally progressing well. Canola in certain fields is facing challenges due to increasing concerns about gopher infestations.

Warmer temperatures are ideal for haying, leading to substantial progress over the past week. Tame hay conditions are reported as 7 per cent poor, 47 per cent fair, 42 per cent good, and 4 per cent excellent.

Elsewhere, warm temperatures have finally arrived in all regions of the province. Despite scattered rains occurring throughout the past week, the reduced amount of standing water in fields is providing a visual indication of an ongoing reduction in surface moisture. Soil moisture reserves remain varied across the province.

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The warmer temperatures and dry conditions are ideal for haying, with significant progress being made in all regions over the past week. Fungicide applications have continued when temperatures cool, resulting in most spraying occurring throughout the evenings.

Provincial major crop conditions remain above average for this week. Warmer than ideal evening and overnight temperatures are not providing crops with a break from the hot days, which could stress crops that have begun flowering over the last week.

Slightly cooler temperatures and additional moisture in the weeks ahead would be beneficial as the spring crops progress through flowering and into seed development, and as hay fields begin regrowth after the first cut completes.

Major spring cereals continue to develop at a rate near historical averages. On average, spring wheat is reported as at the early stages of head emergence, barley is at the late stages of booting (i.e. head development within the stem) and oats are at the early stages of booting.

Limited precipitation over the last week combined with warm air temperatures have led to a weekly decrease in surface moisture across all regions of the province. Provincial surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings are reported as 66 per cent, above the 5-year average of 60 per cent and the 10-year average of 61 per cent.

Regional surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are reported at 62 (-7) per cent in the South Region, 58 (-15) per cent for the Central Region, 76 (-6) per cent for the North East Region, 70 (-7) per cent for the North West Region, and 84 (-5) per cent for the Peace Region.

Sub-surface soil moisture ratings over the last week have also declined across the province. Provincial sub-surface moisture good-to-excellent ratings were reported as 54 per cent, which is below the 5-year average of 55 per cent and the 10-year average of 58 per cent.

Regional sub-surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are reported as 55 (-10) per cent in the South Region, 29 (-17) per cent for the Central Region, 65 (-1) per cent for the North East Region, 67 (-1) per cent for the North West Region, and 87 (-4) per cent for the Peace Region.

Warm temperatures have led to minimal pasture growth over the past week with only the Peace Region reporting an improvement in conditions. Provincial good-to-excellent pasture growth conditions are 67 per cent, a 7 per cent decrease over last week while still ahead of the 5-year average of 52 per cent and 10-year average of 56 per cent.

Regional pasture good-to-excellent growth conditions (change from last week) are reported as 65 (0) per cent for the South Region, 59 (-18) per cent for the Central Region, 77 (-3) per cent for the North East Region, 80 (-3) per cent for the North West Region, and 75 (+2) per cent for the Peace Region.

Tame hay growth conditions have also slowed under the recent heat with a provincial good-to-excellent rating of 66 per cent which, while 8 per cent lower than last week, is still higher than the 5-year average of 57 per cent for this week. Tame hay growth conditions have also slowed under the recent heat with a provincial good-to-excellent rating of 66 per cent which, while 8 per cent lower than last week, is still higher than the 5-year average of 57 per cent for this week.

Regional tame hay good-to excellent growth conditions (change from last week) are reported as 64 (+1) per cent for the South Region, 46 (-29) per cent for the Central Region, 73 (-2) per cent for the North East Region, 83 (-1) per cent for the North West Region, and 74 (+2) per cent for the Peace Region.

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