Crop Conditions as of May 16, 2017

About 61 per cent of 2016 unharvested crops have now been taken off the fields (up 30 per cent from last week), with approximately 460,000 acres still remaining. Compared to May 2 (first crop report), currently, 13 per cent of unharvested crops are in the Central Region, 39 per cent in the North East, 67 per cent in the North West and 29 per cent in the Peace.

Soil moisture reserves in the North East, North West and Peace Regions have increased significantly, with about 70 per cent of agricultural lands in these Regions experiencing high soil moisture, which occurs on average less than once in 50 years. Provincially, surface soil moisture is rated (sub-surface soil moisture ratings shown in brackets) at four (six) per cent fair, 29 (28) per cent good, 47 (49) per cent excellent, and 20 (17) per cent excessive. Pasture conditions (tame hay conditions are in brackets) across the province are reported as 12 (12) per cent fair, 67 (68) per cent good, and 21 (20) per cent excellent. Fall seeded crops conditions are rated as eight per cent fair, 67 per cent good and 25 per cent excellent.

REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2017 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:

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

• Warmer days and windy conditions have dried up some wet fields, allowing producers to seed. Showers in some areas have slowed seeding progress. Overall, seeding is estimated at 64 per cent completed, up from 24 per cent a week ago. Also, about 16 per cent of crops have emerged.
• About 64 per cent of spring wheat, 65 per cent of durum and barley, 58 per cent of canola, 100 per cent of corn, 89 per cent of sugar beets, 83 per cent of potatoes and 75 per cent of dry peas are now seeded.
• Pasture and tame hay fields are in good condition, due to good soil moisture. Pasture conditions are rated as six per cent fair, 71 per cent good and 23 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
• Fall seeded crops conditions are reported as one per cent poor, six per cent fair, 55 per cent good, and 38 per cent excellent.

• While some overwintered crops have been burned and others plowed down, harvesting of the 2016 crop is likely to wrap-up this week. After a late start, seeding is progressing, with 33 per cent completed (up 23 per cent from last week), and three per cent of crops have emerged. Warm weather is needed to expedite seeding progress.
• About 39 per cent of spring wheat, 43 per cent of durum wheat, 25 per cent of barley, 30 per cent of canola, 59 per cent of dry peas and 20 per cent of corn are reported as seeded.
• Forages, pasture and hay fields have good amounts of moisture, due to the early spring snow melt and recent showers. Pasture conditions are rated as seven per cent fair, 72 per cent good and 21 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
• Fall seeded crops are rated as seven per cent fair, 78 per cent good, and 15 per cent excellent.

• A lot of fields are still extremely saturated, with 40 per cent rated as having excessive surface soil moisture. Warm sunny weather is needed to wrap-up harvesting of the 2016 overwintered crop and begin seeding of new crop. Rainfall over the weekend in most areas did not help matters, halting field activities.
• As of May 16, seeding for the Region stands at eight per cent complete, compared to two per cent a week ago. Only 11 per cent of spring wheat, six per cent of canola and 32 per cent of dry peas have been seeded.
• Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as four per cent fair, 75 per cent good and 21 per cent excellent.
• Fall seeded crops conditions are reported as 74 per cent good and 26 per cent excellent.

• Some fields are very saturated and neither combines nor seed drills are able to get work in the fields. In some areas where fields are dryer, seeding has begun. However, rain over the weekend has again hampered the harvesting of some overwintered crops and delayed seeding progress.
• Regionally, five per cent of crops (mainly spring wheat, barley and dry peas) are now seeded, compared to less than one per cent a week ago.
• Pasture and hay conditions are rated as 54 per cent fair, 39 per cent good and seven per cent excellent.

• Dry weather at the beginning of last week allowed for some harvesting of the remaining 2016 crops, field preparation and some seeding. However, heavy rainfall over the weekend has delayed progress again.
• Seeding for the Region is reported at 18 per cent completed, up 17 per cent from last week. About 19 per cent of spring wheat, 15 per cent of barley, 20 per cent of canola and nine per cent of dry peas are seeded.
• Pasture conditions are rated as 14 per cent fair, 55 per cent good and 31 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
• Fall seeded crops are reported as 30 per cent fair, 60 per cent good, and 10 per cent excellent.