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Crop Conditions as June 13, 2017
Over the past week, most areas of the province received at least 10 mm of rain, with the western areas of the Southern, Central and North West Regions as well as southern areas of the Peace Region receiving over 20-30 mm of rain. About 96 per cent of crops across the province have now been seeded and about 86 per cent have emerged. Regionally, seeding is complete in the South and Central Regions. For the rest of the province, seeding progress is at 97 per cent in the North East, 95 per cent in the North West and 78 per cent in the Peace Region. However, with an improvement in weather, these Regions could see some more barley and oats seeded. Provincially, fall seeded crops are in the head emergence stage, while the growth stages for other cereals, oilseeds and pulses is somewhat varied, due to the delay in seeding in most parts of the province.
Provincially, crop growing conditions are 80 per cent good to excellent, above the 5-year (2012-2016) average of 73 per cent. About 80 per cent of spring wheat, 83 per cent of barley, 76 per cent of oats, 77 per cent of canola, 83 per cent of dry peas, 89 per cent of potatoes and 94 per cent of sugar beets are in good to excellent condition (See Table 1).
Multiple rainfall over the past several weeks have led to above normal soil moisture reserves in both the North East and North West Regions. Provincially, surface soil moisture is rated (sub-surface soil moisture ratings shown in brackets) at eight (nine) per cent poor to fair, 42 (43) per cent good, 36 (35) per cent excellent and 14 (13) per cent excessive (See Table 2). Pasture conditions (tame hay conditions are in brackets) for the province are reported as eight (10) per cent poor to fair, 60 (58) per cent good and 32 (32) 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 is complete for the Region. Most cereals are in the elongation stage, with fall seeded crops in the head emergence stage. About 68 per cent of canola, 61 per cent of dry peas and 73 per cent of lentils are in the 4-6 leaf/node stage. Post-emergence spraying is well underway and 65 per cent complete.
- Regionally, about 75 per cent of crops are in good condition and another 13 per cent in excellent condition.
- Haying has just started in the Region with seven per cent of the first cut dryland crop baled and about 13 per cent for irrigated.
- Pasture conditions are reported as 10 per cent poor to fair, 79 per cent good and 11 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Good conditions through the week allowed producers to wrap up seeding for the Region, although there are a few areas in the Region that will not get seeded this year.
- Spring seeded crops are now in the tillering stage of development; fall seeded crops are mostly in the booting stage; most canola are in the 1-3 leaf/node stage and pulses are mainly in the 4-6 leaf/node stage. About 41 per cent of post-emergence spraying is complete.
- Regionally, 69 per cent of crops are in good condition and another 14 per cent are in excellent condition.
- Pasture conditions are now reported as 10 per cent poor to fair, 79 per cent good and 11 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Seeding is now at 97 per cent complete (up eight per cent from a week ago), with some seeding still underway in lower lying fields. Nearly 80 per cent of crops have emerged.
- While fall seeded crops are in the head emergence stage of development, spring seeded cereals are mainly in the seedling stage, with canola and dry peas mainly in the 1-3 leaf/node stage. Due to delayed seeding, post-emergence spraying operations are behind and about 30 per cent complete.
- Regionally, 56 per cent of all crops are in good condition and another 28 per cent in excellent condition.
- Pasture conditions are reported as 36 per cent good and 64 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Seeding in the Region is 95 per cent complete (compared to 90 per cent a week ago) and 76 per cent of crops have emerged. There are still some wet fields that may not be seeded this year.
- Most spring cereals are in the seedling stage of development, with canola and dry peas mostly in the 1-3 leaf/node stage. Post-emergence spraying is 17 per cent complete.
- Regionally, 46 per cent of all crops are in good condition and another 18 per cent in excellent condition.
- Pasture conditions are reported as five per cent fair, 30 per cent good and 65 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Overall, seeding is estimated at 78 per cent complete (up eight per cent from a week ago) and 57 per cent of crops have emerged. Most cereals are in the seedling stage of development, with 81 per cent of canola in the 1-3 leaf/node stage and 71 per cent of dry peas in the 4-6 leaf/node stage. Post-emergence spraying has been delayed somewhat by wet conditions, with about 50 per cent complete.
- Regionally, 45 per cent of crops are in good condition and another 19 per cent in excellent condition.
- Pasture conditions are rated as 21 per cent poor to fair, 54 per cent good and 25 per cent excellent, with similar ratings for tame hay.
Ashan Shooshtarian, Crop Statistician
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Economics and Competitiveness Branch
Statistics and Data Development Section
E-mail:ashan.shooshtarian@gov.ab.ca
Phone:780-422-2887
June 16, 2017
Note to Users: The contents of this document may not be used or reproduced without properly accrediting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Economics and Competitiveness Branch, Statistics and Data Development Section
The 2017 Alberta crop reporting series is available on the Internet at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191
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