Alberta Crop Report - June 18, 2013

The June 18, 2013 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.

Provincial
Crops are off to a good start this year. Soil moisture ratings are very good though sometimes too good with 5% of the province rated excessive. 87% of the province is rated good/excellent for surface soil moisture while 84% is rated good/excellent for subsoil moisture. Warmer temperatures are needed to enhance crop development which has been slowed by the cool spring and to allow spraying to be completed. Currently, spraying is estimated to be 47% completed.

The initial crop condition ratings of the season are shown in Table #1. Ratings are well above their longer term 5 year averages and similar to, if not better than, 2012. The exception is the Central Region which is down significantly from 2012, principally due to excess moisture in west side of the region.

Hay/pasture ratings have improved slightly over the past 2 week period to: 1% poor; 15% fair; 62% good, 22% excellent.



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

• Region benefited from warm temperatures and light rains as 89% of the region is rating crop conditions as good/excellent.
• Spring cereals in early stem elongation, winter cereals in early heading, 20% of canola is in the rosette stage and 37% of field peas in 7 – 12 node stage.
• Surface moisture ratings have declined slightly to 91% good/excellent while sub soil moisture has improved to 82% good/excellent.
• Hay/pasture ratings improved to 77% good/excellent from 72% in last report.

• Cool, wet weather across much of region, particularly the west side. Surface moisture ratings have declined from 93% to 86% good/excellent due principally to excessive moisture on west side of region. Sub soil moisture has improved to 93% good/excellent.
• Crop condition ratings are above average but being affected by slowed crop development and excessive moisture in the west half of the region
• Spring cereals are in tillering stage, winter cereals in late boot stage, 6% of canola in rosette stage while 13% of field peas in the 7 – 12 node stage.
• Hay/pasture ratings declined slightly to 90% good/excellent

• Variable precipitation has improved crop growing conditions with surface soil moisture ratings showing significant improvement to 84% good/excellent from 58% last report and sub soil moisture improving to 73% from 61% good/excellent.
• Crop growth has been slowed by the cool spring temperatures with spring cereals in early tillering stage, 4% of canola in rosette stage and 11% of field peas in 7 – 12 node stage.
• Hay and pastures continue to be effected by the cool temperatures and dry early spring weather with a 62% good/excellent rating.

• Region received cool temperatures and frequent precipitation, mostly as showers.
• Surface soil moisture ratings declined slightly to 90% good/excellent while sub soil moisture improved slightly to 89%.
• Crop development has been slowed by the cool weather with spring cereals in early tillering stage, 1% of canola in rosette stage and 1% of field peas in 7 – 12 node stage.
• Hay/pastures are rated at 99% good/excellent.

• Cool weather and precipitation of 50 – 125 mm covered the region. Standing water is a significant issue with 15% of the region rated excessive.
• Surface moisture ratings declined to 85% good/excellent due to the excess moisture. Sub soil moisture rated at 96% good/excellent.
• Spring cereals in mid tillering stage, 4% of canola in rosette stage, 16% of field peas in
• 7 – 12 node stage.
• Hay and pastures rated near 100% good/excellent at this time.