Crop Conditions as of May 31, 2016

Hay and pastures have improved significantly with the precipitation of the past 2 weeks but need warmer weather.



REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2016 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:

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

• Precipitation was slightly above average for the month. An area along the west portion of the region remains in a moderate soil moisture deficit.
• Seeding 99.8% completed, 99.8% last year, the 5 yr. average of 96.5% and the long term average of 96.6%.
• 91% of crops have emerged with spring wheat at 95%, durum 96%, barley 93%, canola 85%.
• Surface moisture declined to 74% rated good or excellent. Sub soil moisture at 65% good or excellent.
• Forage grasses starting to head. 1^st cut dryland hay crop expected to be negatively affected by the early dryness.

• Dry start to the month of May allowed producers to make good seeding progress. Precipitation arrived in the second half of the month. April/May accumulations are 140 – 200% of normal. Moderate to severe soil moisture deficit remains in the west, north of Calgary as April/May precipitation has been only 85% of normal.
• Seeding 97.9% completed, 99.4% last year, the 5 yr. average of 95.6% and long term average of 95.9%
• 79% of crops have emerged with spring wheat at 85%, durum 89%, barley 69%, canola 78%.
• Surface moisture ratings declined to 79% good or excellent due to significant increase in excessive moisture. Sub soil moisture benefited from the precipitation and rose to 76% rated good or excellent.
• Hay and pastures benefited from the improved moisture and rose 10 points to 76% good or excellent.

• Some areas in the region are very wet with precipitation amounts of 30 – 50 mm this week following the good moisture received the week previously. April precipitation was 80% of normal. Precipitation over past 2 weeks has precipitation amounts at 150 – 200% of the April/May accumulated normal.
• Seeding 93.7% completed, 99.4% last year, the 5 yr. average of 95.4% and the long term average of 93.6%.
• 66% of crops have emerged with spring wheat at 76%, barley 49%, canola 59%, field peas 97%.
• Surface moisture ratings showed major improvement despite 17% of region rated excessive. Surface moisture is rated good or excellent by 72% of the region, sub soil at 63% rated good or excellent.
• Hay/pasture outlook improved with the precipitation of past 2 weeks to 55% rated good or excellent.

• Additional precipitation this week in amounts of 15 – 25 mm, following on the good rains of the previous week. After virtually no precipitation in April, the April/May accumulations are 150% of normal.
• Seeding 96.8% completed, 99.4% last year, the 5 yr average of 96.3% and the long term average of 95.0%.
• 64% of crops have emerged with spring wheat at 88%, barley 56%, canola 49%, field peas 100%.
• Surface moisture has improved significantly with the precipitation of the past 2 weeks to 91% rated good or excellent. Sub soil moisture improved to 58% good or excellent.
• 24% of hay and pastures are rated good or excellent. Should show further improvement with some heat.

• 15 – 30 mm of precipitation reported across the region. Following minimal precipitation in April, precipitation arrived in 2^nd half of May. April/May accumulations now stand at 180% of normal.
• Seeding 98.2% completed, 99.4% last year, the 5 yr average of 97.2% and the long term average of 96.6%.
• 81% of crops have emerged with spring wheat at 86%, barley 75%, canola 77%, field peas 90%.
• Surface moisture improved to 76% rated good or excellent. Sub soil moisture at 49% good or excellent.
• 45% of hay and pastures rated good or excellent, improving from 37% last week.