Hot weather helped advance crops in central Alberta over the last week

Warm and windy weather conditions accelerated crop development across the province, though excess moisture remains a challenge in many areas. Consistent with last week, provincial major crops were rated 64 per cent good-to-excellent, above the five-year average of 59 per cent but below the 10-year average of 67 per cent.

South, central and north east regions each changed by less than two per cent, though the north west increased by two per cent and the peace region decreased by three per cent. Regionally, major crops rated good-to-excellent (five-year average) are 85 (53) per cent in the south, 81 (65) per cent in the central region, 52 (63) per cent in the north east, 31 (61) per cent in the north west and 55 (51) per cent in the peace region.

Canola (56 per cent) and oats (50 per cent) have the lowest provincial good-to-excellent rating as these crops struggle in areas with excess moisture (especially the north west and north east), with reports noting the stress causing thin fields and reduced vigour for canola. The highest rated major crops are dry peas (72 per cent good-to-excellent), followed by spring wheat and barley, both 69 per cent good-to-excellent.

Pest pressures have been rated as over five per cent moderate for estimates of diamondback moths, lygus bugs, and gophers in the south region, root maggots and gophers in the central region, and gophers in the north west. There has also been reports of over threshold level gophers in central and north west regions, ranging from 6 to 10 per cent.

On average, spring cereals are staging at the early stages of head emergence. Provincially, the most advanced cereal is durum, which is just beginning to flower, while oats are the least advanced cereal at the mid-booting stage. Looking at the provincial averages, crops are still staging behind their historical averages, though warm weather this week helped advance crops. Spring cereals are most advanced in the south, where they are beginning to flower, consistent with the historical average for the region.

Late seeding in the peace continues to impact spring cereals, which are currently in the middle of booting as compared to normally being in early flowering over the past five years. Currently, 86 per cent of broadleaf crops are flowering, compared to the five- and 10-year average of 76 and 76 per cent. This is a significant increase from two weeks ago, as only eight per cent of broadleaves were flowering, and instead 53 per cent were in rosette or had 7-12 nodes. The region with the least amount of crops flowering is the north east region at 71 per cent, while the central region is at 92 per cent.

Surface soil moisture is rated 73 per cent good-to-excellent (one per cent poor, 16 per cent fair, 45 per cent good, 28 per cent excellent and 10 per cent excessive), down from 80 per cent last week. With a shift in the weather, surface soil moisture is actively showing signs of drainage.

Regionally, surface soil moisture rated good-to-excellent is rated (change from last week) 61 (-19) per cent in the South, 84 (-6) per cent in the central, 75 (-2) per cent in the north east, 60 (+5) per cent in the North West and 85 (-2) per cent in the peace region. Each region remains above its five-year average. Notably, the increase in good-to-excellent-rated soil moisture in the north west comes from the decrease in excessive moisture.

On June 30, this region was reported to have 55 per cent excessive soil moisture, which has now decreased to 40 per cent. This is still significantly above the five- and 10-year averages of two and 10 per cent, respectively. The next lowest soil moisture rating was in the south region, at 61 per cent, after a significant decrease (-19) from last week. The south region remains rated above the five- and 10-year average of 39 and 46 per cent good-to-excellent.

Provincial sub-surface soil moisture decreased to 78 per cent good-to-excellent from 83 per cent good-to-excellent. The largest change in good-to-excellent surface soil moisture was the decrease of 17 per cent in the south region, which is now rated at 56 per cent; however, all regions remain significantly above their historical averages. Significant moisture at this depth will support continued crop advancement as we move into the historically hotter months of July and August.

Provincial pasture growth conditions rated good-to-excellent decreased from 82 to 79 per cent but remained significantly above the five- and 10-year averages of 45 and 56 per cent, respectively. Regional conditions changed between 0 and 3 percent, except in the south region, which decreased by eight per cent.

Tame hay conditions for the province were rated 79 per cent good-to-excellent, down from 81 per cent last week and above the five- and 10-year average of 46 and 58 per cent. Regional tame hay rated as good-to-excellent (five-year average) was 69 (32) per cent in the south, 97 (57) per cent in the central, 88 (41) per cent in the north east, 78 (51) per cent in the north west and 59 (45) per cent in the peace region. Provincially, 26 per cent of first-cut hay is complete and is averaging 1.7 tons per acre.

Progress is highest in the south with 46 per cent of dryland complete, averaging 1.5 tons per acre. The highest dryland yield is currently in the peace region where 14 per cent of hay is cut and is averaging 1.9 tons per acre. Irrigated first-cut in the south is 62 per cent complete and is averaging 2.4 tons per acre.

by AFSC/Government of Alberta

Hot weather helped advance crops in central Alberta over the last week

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