Crop Conditions as of June 20, 2017 (Abbreviated Report)

Provincially, crop growing conditions improved by two per cent and are now 82 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average (2012-2016) of 74 per cent (See Table 1). About 84 per cent of spring wheat and barley, 78 per cent of oats, 77 per cent of canola and 87 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.

Over the past week, soil moisture reserves remained almost unchanged across the province. Provincially, surface moisture (the 5-year averages are shown in brackets) was rated at eight (24) per cent poor to fair, 45 (40) per cent good, 33 (31) per cent excellent and 14 (five) per cent excessive (See Table 2). Sub-surface soil moisture conditions have similar ratings, with high excessive moisture in North East, North West and Peace Regions.

Haying has started in the province, but is slow due to wet conditions. Provincially, pasture conditions are rated as one per cent poor, eight per cent fair, 58 per cent good and 33 per cent excellent, with similar ratings for tame hay conditions.

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)

• High winds over the past week have been a concern -- drying and stressing crops, but recent rains have kept the soil moisture and provided good growing conditions. Most of cereals are in the elongation stage. Gophers are becoming a problem in some fields.
• Crop growing conditions are good. About 88 per cent of spring wheat and oats, 87 per cent of barley and canola and 90 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition, which is higher than the 5-year averages.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture are rated at 85 and 84 per cent good to excellent, respectively.
• Producers have started haying with average yields expected. Pasture and tame hay conditions are now reported as 12 per cent poor to fair, 82 per cent good and six per cent excellent.

• While most of spring wheat in the Region is in the elongation stage of development, barley and oats are still in the tillering stage. Post-emergence spraying is still going on, having been delayed by wet conditions. Some gopher damage in canola fields have been reported, as well as some cutworm and wireworm damage.
• Regionally, about 92 per cent of spring wheat, 91 per cent of barley and oats, 84 per cent of canola and 94 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition, which is higher than the 5-year averages.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture are now rated at 91 and 90 per cent good to excellent, respectively, with two and one per cent excessive.
• Haying operation is underway. Pasture conditions are reported as eight per cent poor to fair, 75 per cent good and 17 per cent excellent with similar ratings reported for tame hay.

• Spring seeding is complete in the Region, with some wet acres left unseeded. Wet conditions delayed spraying operations as well as crop growth. Most of the spring wheat is in the tillering stage of development, while barley and oats are still in the seedling stage.
• Regionally, about 87 per cent of wheat, 83 per cent of barley, 85 per cent of oats, 86 per cent of canola and 90 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions are rated as 67 and 61 per cent good to excellent, respectively, with 33 and 39 per cent excessive.
• Pasture conditions are reported as 32 per cent good and 68 per cent excellent, with similar ratings reported for tame hay.

• There are some fields that will not be seeded for crops this year. Post-emergence spraying has been hampered by wet fields and rainy conditions. While most spring wheat has just started the tillering stage, barley and oats are still in the seedling stage.
• About 65 per cent of spring wheat and dry peas, 61 per cent of barley, 63 per cent of oats and 64 per cent of canola are in good to excellent condition, which is lower than provincial average.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture are rated as 63 and 78 per cent good to excellent, respectively, with 37 and 22 per cent excessive.
• First cut hay is taking place in the Region. Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as five per cent fair ad 95 per cent good to excellent.

• Good weather conditions allowed for lots of spraying operations over last week. Cereals are mostly in the tillering stage of development.
• Regionally, about 73 per cent of spring wheat, 67 per cent of barley, 68 per cent of oats, 57 per cent of canola and 75 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
• Surface and sub-surface soil moisture are reported as 78 per cent good to excellent, with eight and seven per cent excessive, respectively.
• Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 22 per cent poor to fair and 78 per cent good to excellent.