Central Alberta crops rated good to excellent, below five and 10 year averages

Cutworms and minor gopher damage have been reported, with gophers, and wireworms above threshold. However, overall pest pressure remains low.

Recent rainfall has brought some relief to the Central and North East regions, but dryland crops and pastures in the South Region remain under stress due to ongoing dry conditions.

Provincial crop conditions are rated 50 per cent good to excellent, below the 5- and 10-year averages of 71 and 70 per cent, respectively. However, with continued precipitation this week, conditions are expected to improve in the coming weeks. Major crops are currently all rated below their historical averages, with good to excellent conditions ranging from 45 per cent for canola to 52 per cent for dry peas.

While conditions have varied, crop development remains ahead of typical seasonal progress, with spring cereals nearing stem elongation and fall-seeded crops well into flowering. Canola and dry peas are progressing quickly in the South Region. About 40 per cent of canola is in the rosette stage, with 5 per cent already flowering, while 44 per cent of dry peas have reached the 7–12 node stage.

Post-emergent spraying is underway across all regions. Spraying is most advanced in the South and Central Regions at 84 and 77 per cent complete, while the Peace Region lags at 34 per cent. Provincially, 66 per cent of spraying is complete, ahead of the 5- and 10-year averages of 49 and 51 per cent, respectively.

Pest pressures are low, with grasshoppers rated as minimal activity provincially at 86 per cent, consistent with historical averages. Flea beetles are more active in the South Region, with 7 per cent of fields rated over thresholds, while other pests are rated as minimal, and no major outbreaks have been reported.

Recent precipitation has contributed to improving moisture conditions, but early season dryness continues to slow pasture and tame hay growth across the province. Compared to last week, pasture conditions have improved slightly provincially, with the proportion rated good to excellent rising to 41 per cent (up 4 per cent), while tame hay ratings declined to 38 per cent (down 2 per cent).

Provincially, pasture (tame hay) growth conditions are rated at 17 (19) per cent poor, 42 (44) per cent fair, 39 (31) per cent good, and 2 (6) per cent excellent. Overall, 59 per cent of pastures and 62 per cent of tame hay fields remain in poor to fair condition, with good to excellent ratings below the 5- and 10-year averages across all regions. The only exception is pastures in the North West Region, which are 1 per cent higher than the 10-year average, though they still show signs of stress.

Regionally, the North West leads in pasture growth, with 61 per cent rated good to excellent, followed by Central (46 per cent), South (39 per cent), North East (32 per cent), and Peace (27 per cent).

Currently, tame hay conditions (5-year averages) are rated as 32 (55) per cent good to excellent in the South Region, 43 (71) per cent good to excellent in the Central Region, 26 (57) per cent good to excellent in the North East Region, 57 (73) per cent good to excellent in the North West Region, and 25 (60) per cent good to excellent in the Peace Region. Inadequate pasture and hay growth in some parts of South and Central regions has led to early cutting of hay, while recent rains are aiding recovery in the Peace Region.

Most areas across the province received 2–10 mm of precipitation this week. The Peace region saw the highest rainfall, with widespread rain of 30–50 mm and some locations exceeding 45 mm. The North West and North East regions received 2–15 mm, with some isolated areas up to 30 mm. Some parts of the Central Region recorded 2–10 mm, while the South remained the driest, with most areas under 10 mm.

Rainfall over the week led to noticeable improvements in soil moisture reserves across all regions. However, surface and sub-surface moisture levels rated good to excellent remain below the 5- and 10-year averages in all areas. Provincially, surface moisture stands at 37 per cent good to excellent, up 17 per cent from last week, while sub-surface moisture is at 38 per cent good to excellent, up 11 per cent over the same period.

Regionally, surface soil moisture rated good to excellent has improved (changes from last week) and is reported at 25 (+6) per cent in the South, 41 (+25) per cent in the Central, 40 (+23) per cent in the North East, 50 (+16) per cent in the North West, and 46 (+21) per cent in the Peace Region.

Sub-surface soil moisture ratings are 26 (+7) per cent in the South, 42 (+7) per cent in the Central, 35 (+18) per cent in the North East, 50 (+18) per cent in the North West, and 54 (+17) per cent in the Peace Region. While improvements have been seen across the province, dryness is still evident in parts of the South, Central, and North East Regions.

by Government of Alberta/AFSC

Central Alberta crops rated good to excellent, below five and 10 year averages

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