Crop Conditions as of May 30, 2017

Seeding progress in the province has reached 79% complete, up 22 percentage points on the week, but well behind the 5 year average of 97%. See Table #1. A weather front early in the reporting period brought strong winds and varying amounts of rain to the North West and North East regions, reaching into the Central. The event was followed by warm sunny days which provided producers with the opportunity to get back into the fields and continue operations with minimal delays. Seeding progress is virtually completed in the South, 7 days behind in the Central but 10-14 days delayed in the North East and North West and approaching 14 days behind in the Peace region. Crop stage is well behind normal with only 43% of crops having emerged compared to last year at 78%. Estimates indicate that 5 – 10% of the cropland in the North East, North West and Peace could potentially remain unseeded this year due to being too wet to access and seed.

Surface soil moisture ratings improved slightly as the percentage of cropland rated excessive declined by nearly 3 percentage points to 15% of the province. The area rated good/excellent was little changed at 75%. See Table #2.

Hay/pasture ratings are very good throughout the entire province with no region rating conditions below 85% good or excellent. Overall, the province is rated <1% poor; 9% fair; 68% good; 22% 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)

• Seeding 98% completed; Emergence @ 80%; spring cereals average 8 leaf stage, winter cereals approaching flag leaf stage, 40% of canola in 1-3 leaf stage, 62% of field peas in 1-3 node stage with 18% in 4-6 nodes.
• No significant pest infestation issues except gophers.
• 42% of spraying completed. 1^st cut irrigated haying starting in Medicine Hat, Warner areas.
• Hay/Pasture ratings: <1% poor; 10% fair; 79% good; 10% excellent.

• Seeding 89% completed. 90-95% complete in east and central areas, 75-80% done in the western section.
• 51% of crops emerged. Spring cereals average 2 leaf stage, winter cereals in early stem elongation stage, 15% of the canola in 1-3 leaf stage, 38% of field peas in 1-3 nodes.
• No significant pest issues to date except gophers.
• Hay/pasture ratings: 1% poor; 12% fair; 72% good; 15% excellent.
• 97% of overwintered crops have been removed (~4,400 acres remain to harvest)

• Seeding has advanced to 65% complete versus 5 year average of 94%. Most effort going into seeding of spring wheat, field peas and canola. Barley & oat seedings trailing badly.
• 22% emergence. Spring cereals average 2 leaf stage, winter cereals entering stem elongation stage, canola is emerging, 32% of field peas in 1-3 node stage.
• Flea beetles, cutworms and wireworms deemed at over threshold levels for damage in 2% of region.
• Hay/pasture ratings: 0% poor; <1% fair; 60% good; 39% excellent.
• 92% of overwintered crop have been harvested (~41,800 acres remain)

• Seeding at 67% completed versus 5 year average of 96%.
• 18% emergence reflecting the delayed seeding. Spring cereals averaging 1-2 leaf stage, 5% of canola in 1-3 leaf stage, 8% of field peas at 1-3 nodes.
• Flea beetles rated over threshold for damage in 4% of the region.
• Hay/pasture ratings: 0% poor; 15% fair; 60% good; 25% excellent.
• 89.5% of overwintered crop harvested (~24,600 acres remain)

• Seeding across the region continuing to be affected by slowness of the saturated soils to dry down. Seeding at 57% complete, advancing only 20 percentage points on the week. 5 year average is 97%.
• 13% of crops have emerged with most crops in very early growth stages. Spring cereals average emerging. Canola has 5% in the 1-3 leaf stage, field peas have 5% in the 1-3 node stage.
• Flea beetles and lygus bugs are deemed over threshold for damage in 1% of the region.
• Hay/pasture crops rated: 0% poor; 15% fair; 59% good; 26% excellent.
• 90% of overwintered crops have been removed (~52,000 acres remain).