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This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The July 28, 2015 Alberta Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website
Alberta Crop Conditions as of July 28, 2015
The continuation of moderate temperatures combined with wide spread shower activity throughout the province have placed crops are under less stress and crop condition ratings have stabilized at 30% rated good or excellent (See Table #1). The precipitation received this week has provided modest improvements to soil moisture ratings. Surface moisture ratings increased 2 points to 32% rated good or excellent and sub soil ratings improved 4 percentage points to 29% rated good or excellent. Most crops have completed their reproductive stage with only a small amount of late seeded crop remaining. Precipitation from this point onward will have minimal effect on yield potential but would continue to be very beneficial in kernel filling and seed test weight which would affect grade and ultimately price to the producer.
The first yield estimates of the season (See Table #2) have been published. These estimates are provided based upon extremely limited information at this time and will be updated bi-weekly. Current provincial estimates are approximately 25 – 30% below the average of the past 5 years though it should be noted that 2 of those years (2013 & 2014) produced the highest average yields ever reported for the province.
Hay and pastures continue to green up with the moisture and growth has restarted. First cut dryland haying is 90% complete with poor yields and so-so quality as only 65% of the crop is rated as good or excellent. 2nd cut irrigated haying is 20% completed with average yields and very good quality. Hay/pasture ratings have improved slightly this week to 44% poor (-4), 38% fair (no change), 18% good (+4), 1% excellent (no change).
Regional Assessments:
The 2015 Alberta Crop Report Series provides summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Spring cereals entering early dough stage; winter cereals ripening; canola 85% podding; field peas podded.
- Harvest is starting on winter cereals, field peas, lentils and barley in a few areas.
- 1st cut haying complete for dryland and 20% of irrigated 2nd cut has been harvested. Small amount of dryland 2nd cut hay expected to be harvested if weather cooperates.
- Initial crop yield estimates 15 - 25% below 5 year averages and 5 – 10% below last difficult year of 2009.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Spring cereals have completed pollination and entering milk stage; winter cereals in soft dough; canola 74% podding; field peas are podded.
- Rain combined with hail in west and central areas benefitted head filling and hay/pasture recovery. Crops continue to deteriorate in the east portion with spotty showers only.
- 82% of 1st cut dryland haying completed; yields poor; only 60% of crop rated good or excellent for quality. 35% of the region anticipating the ability to get a 2nd hay cut.
- Initial crop yield estimates 20 – 25% below 5 year averages but 15 – 30% above 2009.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Spring cereals in early milk stage; winter cereals beginning to ripen; canola 68% podding; field peas 98% podding.
- Most areas received some precipitation which benefitted head filling but slowed haying and hurt hay quality.
- 1st cut dryland hay is 82% complete. Only 58% of the crop is rated good or excellent for quality. Half of the region anticipating the ability to get a 2nd hay cut.
- Grasshoppers moving off dried out hay and pastures have become an issue with 11% of region rating damage at over economic thresholds.
- Initial crop yield estimates are 25 – 35% below 5 year averages; 5% below 2009.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Spring cereals in early milk stage; canola 63% podding; field peas 93% podding.
- Spotty precipitation noted throughout the region with highly variable quantities reported.
- Desiccation of early maturing field peas has begun.
- 1st cut dryland hay is 90% completed. 81% of crop rated good or excellent for quality. Region optimistic regarding the ability to get a 2nd hay cut.
- Grasshoppers have become an issue with 17% of region rating damage at over economic thresholds.
- Initial crop yield estimates are 30 – 35% below 5 year averages; 10% below 2009.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Spring cereals in medium to late milk stage; canola 81% podding; field peas 92% podding.
- Spotty light showers across the region did little except delay haying operations.
- 1st cut haying is 87% completed. 64% of the crop rated good or excellent for quality. Two thirds of region optimistic for a 2nd cut of hay.
- Grasshoppers and lygus bugs are an issue with damage rated a 14% & 12% respectively over economic thresholds.
- Initial crop yield estimates are 15 – 25% below 5 year averages; 10 – 20% below 2009.
James Wright, Risk Analyst
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
Actuarial, Analytics & Forecasting Unit
Lacombe, Alberta
Email: james.wright@afsc.ca
Telephone: (403)782-8336
July 31, 2015
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