Alberta Crop Report - June 30, 2010

The June 30, 2010 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.

Prepared by:
James Wright
Business Risk Management Division
Actuarial & Program Readiness
AFSC, Lacombe
Telephone: (403)782-8336

Provincial
Warm, dry weather over the past 10 days has enhanced crop development. Most areas are experiencing delayed crop development of 7 – 14 days due to cool spring weather with southern Alberta delayed by as much as 3 weeks on account of significant seeding delays. Dry conditions in the NW and Peace regions continue to be a concern though crops in these areas are currently performing well. Overall, crop condition ratings declined slightly since last report to 77.8% rated good/excellent from 78.8%.

Crop Condition Ratings (June 30, 2010)


Unseeded acres across the province are expected to be less than 500,000 acres with most of these acres in southern Alberta. A determination of seeded acres affected by flooding has not been completed to assess amount and effect. First cut haying is in early stages in all areas of the province with dryland hay at 4% completed and irrigated hay at 8% completed. Tame hay and pastures are rated 10% poor/ 18% fair/ 54% good/ 18% excellent. Provincial subsoil moisture levels are rated 19% poor/ 19% fair/ 35% good/ 26% excellent/ 1% excessive.

Southern Alberta
The region received a further 50 – 90 mm of precipitation between June 16 – 21. Warm, dry weather has predominated over the past 10 days enhancing soil dry up and crop development which is up to 3 weeks behind normal. Crop condition ratings have improved significantly to 64.6% rated good/excellent. Crop stage is extremely variable based on date seeded. Concerns are emerging regarding leaf diseases on cereals.

Spring cereals average early stem elongation stage with 65% rated good/excellent. Winter cereals average late head emergence with 81% rated good/excellent. Canola is reported at 46% in rosette stage and 15% flowering. 56% of the crop is rated good/excellent. Field peas are 57% in 7 – 12 nodes with 18% flowering. 73% of the peas are rated good/excellent. Potatoes and sugar beet crop conditions are rated 60% good/excellent while dry beans are at 44% good/excellent.

Subsoil moisture is rated 0% poor/ 1% fair/ 37% good/ 56% excellent/ 6% excessive. Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated 0% poor/ 5% fair/ 47% good/ 48% excellent.

Central Alberta
10 – 20 mm of precipitation fell in the western portion of the region. The entire region benefitted from the warmer temperatures. Crop development is rated 10 – 14 days behind normal due to the cool, wet spring. Crops are progressing well despite the delays as crop condition is rated at 83.4% good/excellent. Leaf diseases are beginning to appear.

Cereals are averaging the mid stem elongation stage with 85% rated good/excellent. Winter wheat averages mid heading with 82% rated good/excellent. Canola is 57% in the rosette stage with 9% flowering and rated 78% good/excellent while field peas are 79% in 7 – 12 node stage with 1% flowering and rated 85% good/excellent.

Subsoil moisture is rated 0% poor/ 6% fair/ 57% good/ 37% excellent. Pasture and tame hay are rated 0% poor/ 8% fair/ 65% good/ 27% excellent.

North East Alberta
The region received 20 – 40 mm of precipitation and warm temperatures. Crop development is 7 – 10 days behind normal. Crop condition ratings declined slightly to 75.5% rated good/excellent from 80% on June 17th. Cereal crops are entering the flag leaf stage with 71% rated in good/excellent condition. Winter wheat is mid heading with 67% rated good/excellent. 55% of the canola is in the rosette stage with 10% flowering and rated 77% good/excellent. 67% of the field pea crop is in the 7 – 12 node stage with 9% flowering and rated 75% good/excellent condition.

Subsoil moisture is rated 9% poor/ 17% fair/ 53% good/ 21% excellent. Pastures and tame hay are rated 3% poor/ 12% fair/ 80% good/ 5% excellent.

North West Alberta
Warm temperatures and 10 – 30 mm of precipitation helped to improve crop condition ratings to 92.7% good/excellent. Timely precipitation has been very beneficial as spring precipitation was below average across much of the region. Crops are 7 days later than normal due to the cool spring weather. Cereal crops are in the mid stem elongation stage with 92% rated in good/excellent condition. Winter wheat is in the boot stage with 88% rated good/excellent. 61% of the canola is in the rosette stage with 11% flowering. 90% of the canola is rated good/excellent. 58% of the field peas are in the 7 – 12 node stage with 11% flowering. 96% of the peas are rated good/excellent.

Subsoil moisture is rated 42% poor/ 30% fair/ 18% good/10% excellent. Pasture and tame hay is rated 20% poor/ 22% fair/ 51% good/ 7% excellent.

Peace River District
The region received warm temperatures and highly variable precipitation with amounts from light showers to 35 mm. The entire region needs precipitation as crop condition ratings have declined significantly over the past two weeks to 72.9% rated good/excellent from 88.2%. Crop development is approximately 7 days delayed. Cereals average the early boot stage with 74% rated as good/excellent. Canola is reported as 76% in the rosette stage with 16% flowering. 64% of the canola is rated good/excellent. 78% of the field pea crop is in the 7 – 12 node stage with 22% flowering. 75% of the field peas are rated in good/excellent condition.

Subsoil moisture is rated 49% poor/ 43% fair/ 8% good/ 0% excellent. Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated 33% poor/ 44% fair/ 22% good/ 1% excellent.

Prepared by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, in cooperation with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. For more information, please contact the writer, James Wright.