Alberta Crop Report - June 4, 2013

The June 4, 2013 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.

Provincial

Seeding is virtually completed at 97% in line with the long term average. Feed crops remain to be completed. Emergence is estimated at 63%, ahead of last year’s 55%. Precipitation was general throughout the province. It is expected that 1% of the province will not be seeded due to excessive moisture, particularly in the area North West of Edmonton.

Crop spraying progress averaging 8.3% completed.

The impact of insect populations has been minimal thus far this year.

With the precipitation, surface soil moisture conditions have improved in all regions with the exception of the North East. Provincially, 83% of the province is rated good/excellent. Regionally, only the North East at 58% good/excellent is rated less than 90% for surface moisture.

Hay and pasture crops are in good condition reflecting the moisture received over the past 10 days. Some reductions to dryland 1^st cut hay yields are expected in southern Alberta due to the prolonged dry conditions this spring. Provincially, hay and pastures are rated 1% poor; 18% fair; 62% good; 19% excellent.


REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)

• Received 25 – 100 mm of precipitation over past 2 weeks bringing about significant improvement in crop & forage growing conditions.
• Areas of higher rainfall reporting surface water pooling in low areas.
• Hay/pastures rated: 2% poor; 28% fair; 64% good; 6% excellent.
• Spraying 13% completed.

• Precipitation variable from showers & light rain in the east portion to 125 – 150 mm in the west.
• Crop growing conditions are very good across the entire region.
• Hay/pastures rated: 0% poor; 9% fair; 79% good; 12% excellent.
• Spraying 4% completed.

• Showers received over past two weeks aided germination. The area badly needs a good soaking rain (see accumulated precipitation map).
• Crop deterioration, which would be expected due to dry conditions, has been slowed by cool temperatures and low winds.
• Hay/pastures rated: 2% poor; 38% fair; 50% good; 10% excellent.
• Spraying 6% completed.

• Light to heavy precipitation across the region. Approximately 1.5 – 2% of the region could remain unseeded as producers are unable to seed low areas.
• Precipitation has helped germination but crops would benefit greatly from a period of warm weather to progress.
• Hay/pastures rated: 0% poor; 4% fair; 62% good; 34% excellent.
• Spraying 11% completed.

• Precipitation varied from heavy showers to 60 mm of rain.
• Seeding delayed in extreme north due to wet conditions which may result in crop going unseeded.
• Hay/pastures rated: 0% poor; 1% fair; 27% good; 72% excellent.
• Spraying 7% completed.