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Crop Conditions as of July 4, 2017 (Abbreviated Report)
Provincial crop condition ratings declined by 3 points this week to 75% rated good or excellent, solely due to a significant decline in the condition ratings of crops in the South region as the droughty conditions currently affecting the US northern tier states has reached into southern Alberta (See Map). Crop condition ratings were virtually unchanged from last week in the Central, North East and North West regions and recorded a small improvement in the Peace (See Table 1).
Compared to last year, crop development is marginally behind in the South and Central regions, approximately 7-10 days behind in the North East, 10-14 days behind in the North West and 14 days or more delayed in the Peace region. With good weather, these regions can make significant improvements in crop development due to the long day length.
Surface soil moisture ratings declined 1 point to 66% of the province rated good or excellent. The fair rating rose 2 percentage points and the excessive moisture rating dropped 1 point (See Table 2). Sub soil moisture ratings are 70% good or excellent with 12% of the province rated as excessive.
Haying is underway in all regions. Producers, thus far, are enjoying the best haying weather for quite some time. Pastures are rated 81% good or excellent with less than 2% rated poor. Hay crops are rated 79% good or excellent with 2% rated poor.
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)
- Hot, dry, windy conditions. Virtually no precipitation outside of an occasional shower. Temperatures 3-5 deg C above normal causing some heat stress which will likely affect productivity potential.
- Cereal crop development in mid head emergence stage.
- Crop condition ratings declined 9 points to 74% good or excellent, slightly below 5 year average of 76%.
- Individual crop ratings fell 9-10 percentage points with the exception of field peas which dropped 6 points.
- Surface moisture ratings fell to 46% good/excellent from 66% last week. Poor rating rose to 7% from 1%.
- Sub soil moisture ratings stand at 60% good/excellent, down 9 points.
- Pasture/hay ratings slipped to 63% from 70%; only 3% rated poor (unchanged from last week).
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Warm temperatures with occasional light showers provided good growing conditions.
- Cereal crop development in boot stage. Last year, cereals entering heading stage.
- Crop condition rating dropped 1 point to 80% good or excellent, above 5 year average of 69%. Individual crops declined 1-3 points with oats declining the most.
- Surface moisture ratings rose to 83% good/excellent from 70% last week; sub soil moisture rated at 81% good/excellent (up 5 points).
- Pasture/hay ratings declined to 77% rated good or excellent from 81% last week.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Warm temperatures with isolated showers across the region.
- Cereal crop development in early stem elongation stage. Last year, cereals were in mid to late boot stages.
- Crop condition ratings are virtually unchanged at 84% rated good or excellent. 5 year average is 75%. Small declines in spring wheat, oats & peas offset by 2 point improvement in canola ratings. Field pea crop being affected by root rot due to wet soils.
- Surface moisture ratings improved to 67% good/excellent (up 3 points). Excessive moisture fell 2 points.
- Pasture/hay crops rated at 98% good or excellent condition (unchanged).
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Warm temperatures and isolated showers predominated.
- Cereal crop development seriously delayed. Currently entering stem elongation stage. Last year, cereals were nearing heading at this time.
- Crop condition ratings declined marginally to 59% good or excellent. 5 year average is 72% g/e. Minimal ratings changes to individual crops with the exception of field peas down 3 points due to root rot concerns.
- Surface moisture ratings improved to 64% good or excellent (up 2 points) as the result of 2 point decline in the excessive moisture rating at 36% of the region.
- Pasture/hay ratings unchanged at 95% good or excellent though slight downward bias toward good.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Above average temperatures and precipitation amounts of 10-40 mm in form of isolated heavy downpours. A good rain event noted in the extremely dry north portion of the region which was much needed.
- Cereal crop development in mid stem elongation. Last year, crops were in early to mid heading stages.
- Crop condition ratings improved 2 points to 68% rated good or excellent. 5 year average is 71% g/e. All crops showed a rating improvement of 1-3 points with canola showing the greatest increase.
- Surface moisture ratings improved to 82% good or excellent from 75% last week. Excessive moisture remained at 6% of the region though a marginal bias was noted for a further decline.
- Pasture/hay ratings rose 1 point to 77% rated good or excellent.
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
James Wright, Risk Analyst
Actuarial, Analytics & Forecasting Unit
E-mail: james.wright@afsc.ca
Phone: 403-782-8336
Lacombe, Alberta
July 7, 2017
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 2017 Alberta crop reporting series is available on the Internet at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191
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