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Crop Conditions as of August 14, 2018 (Abbreviated Report)
General rainfall happened across a large area from northwestern parts of the Central Region to the North West and North East Regions, with precipitation from five to 50 mm, bringing needed moisture to the fields after a spell of hot and dry conditions. Precipitation in the Peace Region varied from spotty showers to an inch of rainfall. Most areas in the Central and Southern Regions still remained dry, although they had a brief reprieve from an exceptionally hot week.
Provincially, crop growing conditions did not change from a week ago and are rated at 60 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average (2013-2017) of 65 per cent (see Table 1). About 61 per cent of spring wheat, 54 per cent of barley, 68 per cent of oats, 62 per cent of canola and 59 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition. Most spring cereal crops are at the dough development stage.
Harvest operations are starting across the province with only one per cent of crops in the bin, which is behind the 5-year average of four per cent at this time (see Table 2), with another one per cent of crops in the swath. About two per cent of barley and 11 per cent of dry peas have been combined, while one per cent of barley, canola and dry peas are in the swath.
Surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings across the province declined over the last week. Surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture are shown in brackets) are now rated as 20 (20) per cent poor, 30 (31) per cent fair, 38 (37) per cent good and 10 (11) per cent excellent, with two (one) per cent excessive. Pasture and tame hay conditions remained poor across the province and declined by three and one per cent, respectively, from a week ago. Pasture conditions are rated as 24 per cent poor, 36 per cent fair, 37 per cent good and three per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2018 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Weather conditions remained hot and dry over the last week, with very spotty light showers in some areas, which did not alleviate the dry condition.
- Harvest operations have been started in the region, with yields reported below normal, due to excess heat and dry conditions. A lot of producers cut their crops for feed. Overall, five per cent of crops in the region are in the bin, compared to the 5-year average of 10 per cent and another three per cent are in the swath.
- About 40 per cent of crops are in good to excellent condition, which is higher than last year (33 per cent), but below the 5-year average of 62 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) are rated as 30 (34) per cent poor, 47 (49) per cent fair, 22 (17) per cent good and one (zero) per cent excellent.
- Pasture (tame hay) conditions are rated as 32 (30) per cent poor, 44 (48) per cent fair, 22 (20) per cent good and 2 (2) per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- This region received very limited moisture, which was not enough to improve conditions. For some areas, zero precipitation was reported. High temperatures are maturing crops quickly, so crops are ready to harvest, but have a lower potential yield. Swath and baling up fields for greenfeed have been started. The region requires more rain to finish the ripening of crops.
- About 47 per cent of crops are rated as good to excellent, compared to the 5-year average of 62 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) are rated as 35 (35) per cent poor, 40 (38) per cent fair and 25 (27) per cent good.
- Second cut hay is about to be complete, with poor yields. Pasture (tame hay) conditions are reported as 27 (29) per cent poor, 43 (42) per cent fair and 30 (29) per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Hot weather conditions were dominant in the region over the last week, with at least 5 mm rain in most parts of the region. However, the southern part of the region did not receive precipitation and led drier soil conditions.
- Crop conditions are rated as 77 per cent good to excellent, up from the 5-year average of 75 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) are rated as 7 (2) per cent poor, 16 (14) per cent fair, 54 (57) per cent good and 22 (26) per cent excellent, with 1 (1) per cent excessive.
- Second cut hay has been very poor, due to dry condition. Pasture (tame hay) conditions are reported as 17 (19) per cent poor, 28 (29) per cent fair, 54 (52) per cent good and 1 (zero) per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Hot dry weather over the past week matured crops. Also, most parts of the region received at least five to10 mm of precipitation, with some areas having at least 20 mm rain. Rain activities over the weekend slowed haying, but benefited pasture conditions.
- Crop conditions are rated as 58 per cent good to excellent, compared to the 5-year average of 66 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) are rated as 16 (16) per cent poor, 28 (35) per cent fair, 42 (33) per cent good and 13 (15) per cent excellent, with 1 (1) per cent excessive.
- Pasture (tame hay) conditions are reported as 41 (41) per cent poor, 40 (39) per cent fair and 19 (20) per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Temperatures were hot in the region for most of the week, but most areas received precipitation from showers to an inch of rain. Smoky conditions reduced sunlight and slowed crop progress.
- Crop conditions are rated as 86 per cent good to excellent, up from the 5-year average of 58 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil moisture in brackets) are rated as zero (2) per cent poor, 8 (9) per cent fair, 63 (60) per cent good and 20 (23) per cent excellent, with 9 (6) per cent excessive.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions are reported as 20 per cent fair, 68 per cent good and 12 per cent excellent.
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Ashan Shooshtarian, Crop Statistician
Economics and Competitiveness Branch
Statistics and Data Development Section
E-mail: ashan.shooshtarian@gov.ab.ca
Phone: 780-422-2887
August 17, 2018
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 2018 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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