| | The excellent weather experienced across the province during the past two weeks has advanced crop development. Generally, the condition of most crops is rated as good to excellent. Provincially, about 91 to 94 per cent of spring cereals (spring wheat, durum, oats and barley) are in good to excellent condition. For canola, 91 per cent of the crop is in good to excellent condition, while for dry peas it is 93 per cent (see Table 1). Crops are advancing quickly and many have caught up from earlier delays. Spring cereals are in the late boot to head emergence stages, while oilseeds and pulses are mostly flowering.
Overall, soil moisture reserves in the province are fair to excellent. Table 2 below presents estimates of sub-surface moisture conditions for the province, by region. Areas reporting above 90 per cent of good to excellent sub-surface moisture are Peace and Central regions. However, precipitation is most welcome in the South, North East and North West regions. Some areas in these regions reported sub-surface moisture conditions as only fair ranging from 16 to 22 per cent. Scattered hailstorms were reported in most regions with the exception of the Peace region. For the most part, the hail damage was minor.
The warm weather is also allowing producers to make good progress with haying operations, with 29 per cent of irrigated and 18 per cent of dryland being complete across the province. Regionally, the Central and North West are about 20 per cent and 29 per cent complete respectively, with good yields and quality rated as good to excellent. In the Southern Region, about 17 per cent of first cut irrigated and 31 per cent of dryland haying operations are complete, with above average yields and good to excellent quality. In the North East and Peace regions it is 14 and 11 per cent complete, respectively.
Pasture and tame hay growth are provincially rated as one per cent poor, 15 per cent fair, 47 per cent good, and 37 per cent excellent.
 
Our thanks to Alberta Agricultural Fieldmen, staff of AFSC and the Alberta Ag-Info Centre for their partnership and contribution to the Alberta Crop Reporting Program.
Regional Assessments:
The 2012 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Excellent weather over the past two weeks helped advance crop development. Among major crops, between 91 and 95 per cent of spring wheat, canola, barley and dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Crops are advancing quickly and many have caught up from earlier delays. Spring cereals are in the late boot to head emergence stages, while oilseeds and pulses are mostly flowering.
- First cut haying operations are underway, with 17 per cent of irrigated and 31 per cent of dryland complete. Pasture is mostly in good to excellent condition.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Crops are advancing quickly with the hot, dry weather. Most major crops are in good to excellent conditions. Over 94 per cent of spring wheat, durum, barley, oats, canola and dry peas are rated as good to excellent. For some crop types, symptoms of heat and moisture stress are becoming evident.
- Warmer temperatures have helped advance crops in many areas of the region. In general, 74 per cent of canola is flowering, while about 23 per cent is still in the rosette stage and three per cent is podding. Most cereal crops are in the late boot stage, with some starting to head.
- Spotty rainfall and scattered hailstorms were reported throughout the region. Moisture reserves are mostly rated as good to excellent.
- First cut haying operations have advanced with 20 per cent now complete on dryland and 10 per cent complete on irrigated land. Pasture is rated as good to excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- During the last two weeks, the region has experienced warm weather with minimal rain but spotty hailstorms. Overall, crops are in good to excellent condition. About 90 per cent of canola, barley, oats, and dry peas, and 84 per cent of spring wheat, are in good to excellent condition.
- Cereal crop development is in the early boot to head emergence stages, while 65 per cent of canola is flowering.
- The first cut dryland haying operation is estimated at 14 per cent complete, with good yields and good to excellent quality. Tame hay and pasture conditions range from fair to excellent.
- Some regions such as Camrose and Lamont are lacking moisture.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- The recent warm weather and scattered rain throughout the region have helped with crop development. Crop condition has improved with about 90 per cent for spring wheat, barley, oats, dry peas, and 94 per cent for canola in a good to excellent range.
- Cereal crop development is in the late boot to head emergence stages. Spring wheat is most advanced, with one-half head emergence being common. About 77 per cent of canola is in flower, 22 per cent in rosette and one per cent is podding.
- First cut haying is underway with 29 per cent complete. Good yields and good to excellent quality are being reported. Tame hay and pasture conditions vary from fair to excellent. A strong weather system which passed through Athabasca County on July 6 and 10 resulted in hail.
Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- The warm weather is advancing crops quickly. Crops are mostly in good to excellent condition. About 88 to 90 per cent of spring wheat, barley, oats, and dry peas, and 85 per cent of canola are in good to excellent condition.
- Spring wheat, barley and oats are in the late boot to head emergence stages, while 79 per cent of canola is flowering.
- The warm weather is also allowing producers to make progress with haying operations, with 11 per cent complete. Good yields and good to excellent quality are being reported. Tame hay and pasture growth is rated as mostly good to excellent.
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development
Economics and Competitiveness Division
Statistics and Data Development Branch
July 13, 2012
Lukas Matejovsky, Crop Statistician
E-mail: lukas.matejovsky@gov.ab.ca
Phone: 780-422-2887
Note to Users: The contents of this document may not be used or reproduced without properly accrediting Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Economics and Competitiveness Division, Statistics and Data Development Branch.
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