Crop Conditions as of May 23, 2017 (Abbreviated Report)

About 80 per cent of the 2016 unharvested crops have now been taken off the fields (up 19 per cent from last week), with approximately 233,000 acres still remaining. Compared to May 2 (first crop report), currently, six per cent of unharvested crops are in the Central Region, 20 per cent in the North East, 29 per cent in the North West and 18 per cent in the Peace.

Regionally, excessive soil moisture levels have dropped between two to seven per cent from last week. Surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture ratings are shown in brackets) across the province is rated at one (one) per cent poor, six (seven) per cent fair, 35 (35) per cent good, 41 (43) per cent excellent and 17 (14) per cent excessive. Provincially, pasture and tame hay conditions are reported as nine per cent fair, 67 per cent good and 24 per cent excellent. Fall seeded crops conditions are rated as one per cent poor, six per cent fair, 74 per cent good and 19 per cent excellent.

REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2017 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:

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

• Seeding progress in this Region advanced 24 per cent from last week, to 88 per cent complete, while 47 per cent of crops have emerged (up 31 per cent from a week ago).
• Most cereals are in the three-leaf unfolded stage. The rainfall last week increased soil moisture levels and was beneficial for crops. Irrigated crops are being irrigated due to insufficient moisture.
• Pasture and tame hay conditions are reported as one per cent poor, six per cent fair, 72 per cent good, and 21 per cent excellent.
• Conditions for fall seeded crops are rated as one per cent poor, six per cent fair, 66 per cent good, and 27 per cent excellent.

• Favorable weather throughout most of the week helped producers to make good seeding progress (up 34 per cent from a week ago), with about 67 per cent of crops now seeded. Almost 15 per cent of seeded crops have emerged, up 12 per cent from a week ago.
• About 73 per cent of spring wheat, 60 per cent of barley, 62 per cent of canola and 95 per cent of dry peas have now been seeded.
• Hay and pasture fields are in good shape. Pasture conditions are reported as one per cent poor, 12 per cent fair, 72 per cent good, and 15 per cent excellent, with similar ratings for tame hay.
• Fall seeded crops are rated as two per cent poor, nine per cent fair, 74 per cent good and 15 per cent excellent.

• Spring combining of 2016 old crop and seeding of 2017 new crop have progressed well over the past week. For overwintered cereal grains, most are now being baled due to sprouting.
• As of May 23, seeding for the Region is 39 per cent complete, compared to eight per cent a week ago. Nearly 48 per cent of spring wheat, 16 per cent of barley, 35 per cent of canola and 77 per cent of dry peas have now been seeded, and four per cent of the crops have emerged.
• Hay and pasture have benefited from the warmer weather. Pasture and tame hay conditions are reported as 70 per cent good and 30 per cent excellent.
• Fall seeded crops conditions are rated as four per cent fair, 84 per cent good and 12 per cent excellent.

• Spring harvest of overwintered crops has been somewhat delayed in this Region, particularly in areas which are still wet. Where fields are dry, producers have begun seeding. Regionally, 35 per cent of crops are now seeded, compared to five per cent a week ago.
• Almost 45 per cent of spring wheat, 20 per cent of barley and oats, 33 per cent of canola and 57 per cent of dry peas have now been seeded, and about one per cent of crops have emerged.
• Pasture and hay conditions are reported as 16 per cent fair, 49 per cent good and 35 per cent excellent.

• The warm and dry windy weather over the long weekend has allowed for some good spring harvest and advanced seeding progress.
• Seeding for the Region is reported at 37 per cent complete, up 19 per cent from last week. About 42 per cent of spring wheat, 33 per cent of barley and oats, 37 per cent of canola and 22 per cent of dry peas are seeded, while less than one per cent of crops have emerged.
• Pasture and hay conditions are reported as 15 per cent fair, 58 per cent good and 27 per cent excellent.