Crop Conditions as of June 21, 2016 (Abbreviated Report)

Provincially, crop growing conditions across the province improved by two per cent and are now 82 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average (2011-2015) of 73 per cent (See Table 1). About 83 per cent of spring wheat, 79 per cent of barley, 90 per cent of oats, 82 per cent of canola and 81 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition. In terms of crop development, most cereals across the province are in the stem elongation stage.

Soil moisture reserves are variable across the province. While both surface and sub-surface soil moisture declined in the South and Central Regions, last week rainfall improved surface and sub-surface soil moisture in the North East, North West and Peace Regions. Provincially, surface moisture was rated at 77 per cent good to excellent compared to 29 per cent a year ago and the 5-year average of 70 per cent (See Table 2). Sub-surface soil moisture conditions across the province have declined by two per cent and are rated as 67 per cent good to excellent compared to 28 per cent last year and the 5-year average of 70 per cent.

Haying has started in the province. Some producers in the Central Region are considering using hay fields for pasture. Provincially, pasture conditions are rated as five per cent poor, 23 per cent fair, 54 per cent good and 18 per cent excellent. Tame hay conditions have similar ratings and are reported as seven per cent poor, 23 per cent fair, 52 per cent good and 18 per cent excellent.

REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2016 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:

Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)

• Most cereals are in the booting stage of development. Spraying is almost complete and gophers are still a problem in a few fields.
• Crop growing conditions are good. Regionally, about 70 per cent of spring wheat and barley, 83 per cent of oats, 75 per cent of canola and dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture have declined by eight and seven per cent, respectively from a week ago and are now rated at 55 and 54 per cent good to excellent.
• Pasture conditions have declined by three per cent from last week, with 51 per cent reported as good to excellent. Similar ratings are reported for tame hay, with some producers looking at grazing same.

• Most of cereals are in the elongation stage. Spraying is still going on, having been delayed by windy conditions this past week. Dry conditions are again prevalent and more moisture is needed in some areas.
• Regionally, about 75 per cent of spring wheat, canola and dry peas, 73 per cent of barley and 81 per cent of oats are in good to excellent condition, which is higher than the 5-year average of 69 per cent.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture declined by 16 and seven per cent, respectively from last week and are now rated at 63 and 69 per cent good to excellent.
• Producers have started haying with about average yields expected. Pasture conditions are now reported as 37 per cent poor to fair and 63 per cent good to excellent with similar ratings are reported for tame hay.

• Most spring wheat are in the elongation stage, while barley and oats are tillering. Windy conditions have slowed spraying operations. More reseeding is reported due to cut worms, gophers and hard crusting.
• Regionally, about 95 per cent of wheat, 92 per cent of barley and oats, and 97 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition, while canola is at 88 per cent.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions have improved by one per cent from a week ago and are now rated as 98 and 69 per cent good to excellent, respectively.
• Haying operations are about to start. Pasture conditions improved by two per cent and are reported as five per cent fair and 95 per cent good to excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.

• While most spring wheat has just started elongation stage, barley and oats are mostly passing the tillering stage. Good progress has been made with spraying last week. Some reseeding was done due to cut worms.
• More than 92 per cent of canola are in good to excellent condition, compared to 57 per cent from a week ago. Also, about 97 per cent of spring wheat, barley, oats and dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture are rated as 99 and 70 per cent good to excellent, respectively.
• Pasture conditions improved dramatically and are now rated as 18 per cent fair and 82 per cent good to excellent. Tame hay conditions are reported as 27 per cent poor to fair and 73 per cent good to excellent, while the haying operation has just began.

• More rainfall in the past week has caused some standing water in the fields, with some yellowing due to excess moisture. Spring wheat is mostly in elongation stage, while barley and oats are tillering.
• Regionally, about 87 per cent of wheat and oats, 77 per cent of barley and canola and 82 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
• Surface soil moisture is reported as 88 per cent good to excellent, with eight per cent excessive.
• Pasture conditions have improved again and are rated as 21 per cent poor to fair and 79 per cent good to excellent, with similar ratings for tame hay.