| | 
Crop Conditions as July 19, 2016 (Abbreviated Report)
With significant rains across the province, particularly in the South and Central Regions over the past two weeks, most of the agricultural lands in Alberta have seen at least near normal amounts of precipitation to date (refer to the map below). Provincially, crop growing conditions improved by two per cent from last week to 83 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average (2011-2015) of 71 per cent (see Table 1). About 83 per cent of spring wheat, 81 per cent of barley, 91 per cent of oats, 83 per cent of canola and 80 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition. In terms of crop development, most cereals across the province are in the flowering stage.
Due to recent rainfall, surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings across the province improved by six and five per cent from a week ago, respectively. Provincially, surface soil moisture was rated at 87 per cent good to excellent and two per cent excessive. This compares to 30 per cent good to excellent a year ago, with no excessive and the 5-year average of 69 per cent good to excellent with two per cent excessive. Sub-surface soil moisture conditions across the province are now rated as 80 per cent good to excellent with almost one per cent excessive, compared with 22 per cent good to excellent last year with no excessive and the 5-year average of 68 per cent good to excellent with one per cent excellent.
Provincially, pasture conditions are rated as six per cent poor, 19 per cent fair, 51 per cent good and 24 per cent excellent (see Table 2). Tame hay conditions (5-year averages in the brackets) have similar ratings and are reported as seven (14) per cent poor, 20 (22) per cent fair, 49 (46) per cent good and 24 (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)
- Rainfall in the past week was beneficial for crops, while heavy rain laid some of the crops down. Some hail damage was reported in the Region. Most cereals are in the milk development stage.
- Regionally (5-year averages in brackets), 64 (76) per cent of spring wheat, 65 (77) per cent of barley, 80 (80) per cent of oats, 68 (76) per cent of canola and 67 (79) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions improved by six and two per cent, respectively from a week ago and are now rated at 70 and 58 per cent good to excellent, comparing with the 5-year average of 68 and 69 per cent, respectively.
- Both pasture and tame hay conditions have declined by two per cent from last week, with 45 and 41 per cent reported as good to excellent, respectively, compared with the 5-year average of 63 per cent for both.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- While rains over the last week improved soil moisture and crop yield potential, wet conditions delayed haying operations and also caused more diseases to show up in cereals. Crops, hay and pasture all need more sunshine, now. Most cereals are in the flowering stage.
- Regionally (5-year averages in brackets), 84 (67) per cent of spring wheat, 85 (67) per cent of barley, 86 (68) per cent of oats, 80 (66) per cent of canola and 88 (70) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture improved by 12 and 13 per cent, respectively from last week and are now rated at 93 and 91 per cent good to excellent, comparing with the 5-year average of 70 and 66 per cent.
- Both pasture and tame hay are now reported as 18 per cent poor to fair and 82 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average of 66 and 65 per cent good to excellent for pasture and hay, respectively.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Most spring wheat are flowering, while barley and oats are in the head emergence stage. Haying operations are complete in some areas of the Region, while other areas have been delayed due to rain.
- Regionally (5-year averages in brackets), about 94 (78) per cent of wheat, 93 (73) per cent of barley, 94 (75 and 73) per cent of both oats and canola, and 95 (81) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions improved by five and eight per cent, respectively and are now rated as 97 and 91 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average of 75 and 70 per cent.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions did not change and are reported as 99 and 98 per cent good to excellent, respectively, compared with the 5-year average of 65 and 64 per cent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Crops are progressing well with the warm temperatures. Most cereals are in the flowering stage.
- Provincially (5-year averages in the brackets), 97 (73) per cent of spring wheat and oats, 95 (72) per cent of barley, 93 (73) per cent of canola and 99 (76) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface soil moisture improved by three per cent to 98 (69) per cent good to excellent with two per cent excessive. Sub-surface moisture declined by nine per cent and is rated as 83 (59) per cent good to excellent.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 74 (64) per cent and 75 (65) per cent good to excellent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Variable weather was reported for the past week. Most cereals are in the milk development stage.
- Regionally (5-year averages in the brackets), 87 (63) per cent of wheat, 77 (61) per cent of barley, 86 (63) per cent of oats, 79 (58) per cent of canola and 84 (66) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture are unchanged from a week ago and rated at 90 and 84 per cent good to excellent, respectively, compared with the 5-year averages of 61 and 71 per cent.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions also stayed similar to a week ago and are rated as 81 and 79 per cent good to excellent, respectively, compared with the 5-year average of 68 and 67 per cent.
Ashan Shooshtarian, Crop Statistician
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Economics and Competitiveness Branch
Statistics and Data Development Section
E-mail:ashan.shooshtarian@gov.ab.ca
Phone:780-422-2887 |
July 22, 2016
Note to Users: The contents of this document may not be used or reproduced without properly accrediting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Economics and Competitiveness Branch, Statistics and Data Development Section.
The 2016 Alberta crop reporting series is available on the Internet at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191 |
|