(rdnewsNOW)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Alberta Crop Report

Much-needed moisture doesn’t slow seeding in Central Alberta region

May 26, 2023 | 2:20 PM

Scattered showers over the last week have brought much-needed moisture to parts of the Central Alberta region.

According to the latest Alberta Crop Report from AFSC and the Government of Alberta, seeding was able to progress uninterrupted despite the rainfall, with seeding progress for major crops having advanced to 83 per cent, near the 85 per cent five-year historical average.

In-crop spraying is reported to have begun on emerged crops, while fall-seeded crop conditions are currently 18 per cent poor, 22 per cent fair and 60 per cent good with none rated excellent.

Tame hay condition ratings for this week are 19 per cent poor, 30 per cent fair, 51 per cent good with none rated excellent. Sub-surface soil moisture conditions (below six inches) are currently rated 24 per cent poor, 33 per cent fair, 43 per cent good with none rated as excellent or excessive.

Meantime, a provincial state of emergency was declared on May 6, 2023 due to the number of wildfires in the province. Albertans who require assistance can call 310-4455 for wildfire related information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

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Survey responses from the North West, North East and Peace regions indicated that wildfire activity is affecting some crop and pasture land. Evacuations, road closures and wildfire activity may impact seeding progress over the next week.

Officials say significant seeding progression continued through much of last week, with minor disruptions reported near the survey date due to significant rains in areas of the province. Observers report provincial seeding progress as of May 23 at 85 per cent of all major crops seeded, ahead of the five-year average of 80 per cent and 10-year average of 82 per cent.

Across the province, seeding progress of major crops advanced 30 per cent, with expectations for seeding of major crops to be completed within the next two weeks in all regions. Seeding progress in the South and Central regions has caught up to historical averages, while the North East, North West and the Peace regions continue to report seeding progress ahead of historical averages.

All regions reported rapid emergence of major crops, with the provincial average at 47 per cent, well above the five-year average of 32 per cent and the 10-year average of 36 per cent. Regionally, emergence of major crops (five-year average emergence of major crops in brackets) is reported as 45 (47) per cent in the South, 44 (34) per cent in the Central, 45 (33) per cent in the North East, 48 (18) per cent in the North West and 54 (14) per cent in the Peace.

Survey respondents reported rain across the province near the reporting date of May 23, with observations in the South, Central, and North East regions describing scattered showers while areas of the North West and Peace regions observed significant soaking rainfall. Surface soil moisture across the province is rated 16 per cent poor, 32 per cent fair, 45 per cent good, seven per cent excellent with less than one per cent having excess surface soil moisture. Subsurface soil moisture ratings across the province are at 20 per cent poor, 33 per cent fair, 43 per cent good, four per cent excellent and less than one per cent excessive.

Weekly good to excellent ratings for pasture and tame hay fields decreased in the South, Central, and North East regions, and improved in the North West and Peace regions. Provincially, pasture growth was rated at 51 per cent good to excellent and tame hay growth at 44 per cent rated good or excellent.