Alberta Crop Report - June 8, 2006

Prepared by:
James Wright
Project Manager
Research and Program Development
Lacombe, AB
Telephone: 403-782-8336

Provincial
Crops are off to a good start. Seeding is close to completed with a few exceptions, principally due to persisting wet field conditions from the wet weather experienced last fall. Forages are performing very well with pastures and tame hay rated 5% poor/ 19% fair/ 52% good/ 24% excellent. Soil moisture is good with over 80% of the province rated good to excellent for both surface and sub soil moisture. The incidence of insect pests has been low with only grasshoppers rated at 16% moderate and 2% over threshold while flea beetles were rated 19% moderate and 4% over threshold.

Provincial ratings for crop stage and conditions:



Lethbridge Region
The area received between 10 – 50 mm over the past two week period. Soil moisture is very good in most areas with 85% of the region rating surface moisture and 90% rating sub soil moisture as good to excellent. Seeding is close to completed but there are some areas that continue to battle wet conditions. Crops are generally looking very good. Pests have not been a problem this year but some reseeds have occurred due to cutworm and wireworm damage.

Forage crops are performing well with over 85% of the pastures and tame hay rated good to excellent. The first cut of irrigated alfalfa hay has started with good yields anticipated.

Regional ratings for crop stage and conditions:



Red Deer Region
Seeding is close to completed with the exception being in Special Areas #4 (Consort) in the eastern portion of the region that continues to endure wet field conditions. Crop conditions are rated as good to very good across the region though central and western portions could use precipitation to maintain good crop growth. Precipitation is forecast for these areas over the weekend. Currently, over 85% of the region is rating sub soil moisture as good to excellent. The incidence of insect pests has been light this year.

Forage crops are progressing very well with 90% of the pastures and tame hay rated in good to excellent condition.

Regional ratings for crop stage and conditions:



Camrose Region
Seeding is close to completed in most areas but has been hampered by wet soil conditions in the NE portion of the region. The NW portion received 40 – 75 mm of precipitation over the past 2 week period while most other areas received only spotty showers.

In the eastern half, 95% of the area is rating sub soil moisture as good to excellent, with 90% of the tame hay and pastures as good to excellent also. Insect pests did not cause any concern this year.

In the western half of the region, conditions were much drier this spring prior to the precipitation noted above. The west and central areas need more precipitation to maintain good crop growth. Sub soil moisture in the western half is rated 5% poor/ 15% fair/ 50% good/ 30% excellent. Forage crops are not performing well due to the early dryness with only 45% rated in good to excellent condition. Flea beetles and grasshoppers have caused concern in some areas this spring.

Ratings for eastern half of the region for crop stage and conditions:



Ratings for western half of the region for crop stage and conditions:



Fairview Region
Most areas of the region received substantial precipitation over the past two week period with amounts up to 150 mm. Some areas needed the precipitation badly, while other areas have too much which is causing water to lie in low areas. Drier, warmer weather is now needed. Seeding is virtually complete except in the Clear Hills area, NW of Fairview. This area has been unable to dry down since the rainfall received last summer. Sub soil moisture for the region is rated as 5% poor/ 15% fair/ 50% good/ 30% excellent. These are some of the highest ratings seen for a few years in the Peace River block.

Forage crops have been negatively affected by the early, dry weather this spring. Currently, tame hay and pastures are rated 14% poor/ 41% fair/ 36% good/ 9% excellent.

Regional ratings for crop stage and conditions: