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This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The June 2, 2015 Alberta Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website
Alberta Crop Conditions as of June 2, 2015
Seeding was virtually completed a week ago. Seeding now stands at 99.5% completed with a small amount of cereals for silage/greenfeed production remaining to be planted. Approximately 82% of seeded crops have emerged. Cereal crop development averages the 4 – 6 leaf stage while 41% of the canola is in the cotyledon stage and 51% in the 1 – 3 leaf stage.
Most areas of the province received a small amount of precipitation, principally in the form of showers. Surface soil moisture ratings continue to decline despite the precipitation received with 30% of the province rated poor (up from 22% last week) and 28% rated good or excellent (down from 31%). Crops are currently performing well in all regions despite the dry conditions but immediate precipitation is needed to maintain a strong yield potential. Hay and pasture condition ratings declined 3% to 30% good or excellent. Yield potential has been affected by the dryness to average at best.
Flea beetles on canola are an issue in all regions with 12% of the province rating damage as over threshold. Infestations are causing some growers to spray and some reseeds have occurred.
Regional Assessments:
The 2015 Alberta Crop Report Series provides summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Cereals averaging early tillering stage; 58% of canola in 1-3 leaf stage and 30% in 4-6 leaf stage.
- Winter wheat in late stem elongation to early boot stages.
- Surface soil moisture ratings declined to 23% poor from 16% and 35% good or excellent from 43% last week.
- Hay and pastures rated 18% poor; 36% fair; 39% good; 7% excellent
- Gophers are the prime problem with infestations rated 12% moderate and 5% over threshold.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Cereals averaging 4 – 6 leaf stage; 49% of canola in cotyledon stage and 47% in 1 – 3 leaf stage.
- Winter wheat in late stem elongation stage.
- Surface soil moisture ratings fell to 51% poor from 36% and 12% good or excellent from 16% last week.
- Hay and pastures rated 57% poor; 34% fair; 9% good.
- Flea beetle infestations rated 13% moderate and 4% over threshold
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Cereals averaging 4 – 5 leaf stage; 37% of canola in cotyledon stage with 60% in 1 – 3 leaf stage.
- Frost on May 28 caused minor damage which will result in a small number of canola reseeds.
- Surface soil moisture ratings declined to 27% poor from 19% and 27% good or excellent from 30% last week.
- Hay and pastures rated 37% poor; 35% fair; 28% good.
- Flea beetle infestation rated 22% moderate and 20% over threshold.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Cereals averaging 1 – 2 leaf stage; 45% of canola in cotyledon stage with 51% in 1 – 3 leaf stage.
- Frost along with heavy flea beetle pressure is negatively affecting the canola crop.
- Surface soil moisture ratings fell to 35% poor from 29% with good or excellent rating unchanged at 11%.
- Hay and pastures rated 39% poor; 39% fair; 22% good.
- Flea beetle infestation rated 42% moderate and 29% over threshold.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Cereals averaging 3 – 5 leaf stage; 61% of canola in cotyledon stage with 39% in 1 – 3 leaf stage.
- Surface soil moisture ratings were unchanged at 11% poor and 49% rated good or excellent.
- Hay and pastures rated 9% poor; 37% fair; 46% good; 8% excellent.
- Flea beetle infestation rated 10% moderate and 5% over threshold.
James Wright, Risk Analyst
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
Actuarial, Analytics & Forecasting Unit
Lacombe, Alberta
Email: james.wright@afsc.ca
Telephone: (403)782-8336
June 5, 2015
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