Major crops in Central Alberta still rated good-to-excellent, despite cooler temps and high precipitation

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Pasture conditions have continued to improve week-over-week.

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Tame hay growth conditions (5-year average) are rated as 2 (16) per cent poor, 34 (23) per cent fair, 58 (52) per cent good, and 6 (9) per cent excellent.

Meantime, moisture patterns across the province remain highly variable. Many areas throughout the southern part of the province have received timely and sufficient precipitation that has replenished soil moisture and supported crop development. The central and northern areas are experiencing excess moisture, with standing water in low-lying fields and delayed emergence due to saturated soils and cool weather. This variability is occurring within regions and counties as well. Regions with more rain have also reported that some seeding acres remain unfinished due to saturated fields.

Conditions of major crops, provincially, are rated 68 per cent good-to-excellent. This is above last year’s major crops report of 49 per cent good-to-excellent and the 5-year average of 64 per cent, but below the 10-year average of 71 per cent. Potatoes, flax, and lentils are all rated over 80 per cent good-to-excellent, while oats, mustard and canola have the lowest ratings.

Regionally, crop conditions (change from last year) in the South (+33 per cent), Central (+28 per cent) and Peace (+40 per cent) regions are all significantly above last year’s ratings. The North East Region is stable (+2 per cent) compared to last year, while the North West is currently 10 per cent below.

Provincially, crop staging of spring cereals ranges from near tillering to main shoot and seven tillers compared to last year when durum was at flag leaf and other cereals were near the end of tillering or just entering stem elongation. The most advanced cereals are currently in the South Region which are just beginning stem elongation, compared to the Peace Region where cereals are just beginning to tiller.

Many areas reported that cool spring conditions were delaying early growth and varying crop development. The percentage of broadleaf crops (canola, dry peas, lentils, chickpeas and mustard) currently staged in 1-3 leaf/node is 34 per cent higher year-over-year and broadleaf crops in 4-6 leaf/node is 17 per cent below last year’s reports. While weed and pest pressures are low, there is concern that continued moisture will limit spraying abilities needed to maintain those low pressures. Post-emergent spraying is currently 23 per cent behind year-over-year.

Even though most of the province received between 5-50 mm of precipitation over the last week, some areas of the South and Central regions still reported decreases in surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions. In comparison, some areas in the North West Region, as well as pockets around the province, have more excessive soil moisture.

As for temperatures around the province, the 7-day average daily mean relative to the long term normal has been near normal while most of the Peace Region was moderately warm. Warm weather and sunshine are needed to see the potential yield outcomes that come with the high precipitation reported, especially in the North East and North West regions.

Regional sub-surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are reported as 65 (-9) per cent in the South Region, 79 (-1) per cent for the Central Region, 82 (+8) per cent for the North East Region, 87 (+5) per cent for the North West Region, and 89 (-5) per cent for the Peace Region.

Most regions showed stability in the percentage of pasture rated good-to-excellent (prior week’s rating). Regionally, pasture growth in the South was rated at 59 (63), the Central at 74 (72), the North East at 93 (90), the North West at 82 (84), and the Peace at 43 (30) per cent. While all regions were rated significantly higher than last year (ranging from 17-61 per cent above), when compared to the 5-year average, the South was 15 per cent above, Central was 14 per cent above, North East was 42 per cent above and North West was 22 per cent above, while the Peace Region was 5 per cent below. Since recent rains have driven rapid pasture growth, most cattle have been turned out to pasture across the province.

Provincial tame hay conditions (70 per cent good-to-excellent) are rated above the 5- and 10-year averages (53 and 63 per cent, respectively), with similar trends across the regions. While growth is reported to be progressing well, slow initial growth and frequent rain have limited provincial haying progress compared to previous years. Only one-half per cent of dryland hay has been cut, compared to progress of 3 per cent reported last year and the 5-year average of 2 per cent complete. Irrigated hay is also only 5 per cent complete first cut compared to last year’s 22 per cent and the 5-year average of 14 per cent complete.