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Crop Conditions as July 18, 2017 (Abbreviated Report)
Precipitation over the past 30 days has been highly variable across the province. While most of the areas in the Peace and Northern parts of the North East and North West Regions have seen at least near normal amounts of precipitation to date, the rest of the province has been quite dry, with rainfall accumulations of less than 30 millimeter (refer to the map below). Provincially, the rating of crop growing conditions fell six per cent from last week to 65 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average (2012-2016) of 69 per cent (see Table 1). Provincially (5-year averages in brackets), 66 (71) per cent of spring wheat, 62 (69) per cent of barley, 67 (71) per cent of oats, 64 (68) per cent of canola and 64 (72) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition. In terms of crop development, most cereals across the province are in the flowering stage.
Surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings across the province declined about one per cent. Surface soil moisture conditions (5-year averages in brackets) are now rated as 15 (12) per cent poor, 18 (22) per cent fair, 34 (43) per cent good, 24 (19) per cent excellent and nine (four) per cent excessive. With respect to sub-surface soil moisture conditions are now rated as 13 (nine) per cent poor, 15 (24) per cent fair, 40 (46) per cent good, 22 (20) per cent excellent and 10 (one) per cent excessive.
Pasture and tame hay growing conditions have deteriorated somewhat from last week, but still remained higher than the 5-year averages. Provincially, pasture conditions are rated as nine per cent poor, 26 per cent fair, 41 per cent good and 24 per cent excellent (see Table 2). Tame hay conditions (5-year averages in the brackets) have similar ratings and are reported as nine (15) per cent poor, 26 (24) per cent fair, 40 (46) per cent good and 25 (15) 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)
- Hot, dry and windy weather continued to deplete soil moisture reserves and put stress on both crops and grasses. Rain is needed. Most cereals are in the milk development stage.
- Regionally (5-year averages in brackets), 46 (69) per cent of spring wheat, 45 (70) per cent of barley, 50 (76) per cent of oats, 43 (70) per cent of canola and 48 (71) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions have declined by one and three per cent, respectively from a week ago and are now rated as 26 and 36 per cent good to excellent.
- Pasture conditions have deteriorated eight per cent from last week, with 34 per cent reported as good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average of 52 per cent. Tame hay conditions have similar ratings.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Although some areas have experienced cooler temperatures, there were still a couple of 30○C+ days. Crops in some areas are a little behind, due to the late seeding, but most cereals are in the flowering stage.
- Regionally (5-year averages in brackets), 70 (64) per cent of spring wheat, 71 (65) per cent of both barley and oats, 65 (61) per cent of canola and 75 (67) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture declined by eight and five per cent, respectively from last week and are now rated as 62 and 68 per cent good to excellent.
- Pasture and tame hay are now reported as 48 and 51 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average of 62 and 61 per cent good to excellent, respectively.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Weather was variable across the Region over the past week. While hot and dry weather with thunder showers have persisted in some areas, warmer weather is still needed in other areas for favorable growth conditions. Most cereals are in the head emergence stage of development.
- Regionally (5-year averages in brackets), about 83 (79) per cent of wheat, 80 (75 and 77) per cent of barley and oats, 81 (75) per cent of canola and 85 (81) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions improved by six and four per cent, respectively and are now rated as 71 and 69 per cent good to excellent, with 24 and 28 per cent excessive.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions are now reported as 95 and 94 per cent good to excellent, respectively, compared with the 5-year averages of 75 and 69 per cent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- While hot, dry weather in some areas allowed for forage harvest and benefited cereals and pulses growth, in other areas warmer weather is needed to ensure yields. Most cereals are in the head emergence stage.
- Provincially (5-year averages in the brackets), 59 (74 and 72) per cent of spring wheat and canola, 54 (72) per cent of barley, 57 (74) per cent of oats, and 58 (77) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture remained unchanged from a week ago and are rated as 74 and 84 per cent good to excellent, respectively, with 23 and 16 per cent excessive.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 93 and 95 per cent good to excellent, respectively, compared with the 5-year average of 66 and 67 per cent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- The Region received good precipitation over the past week, although some hail storms were also reported. Most cereals are in the head emergence stage of development.
- Regionally (5-year averages in the brackets), 72 (63) per cent of wheat, 64 (59 and 64) per cent of barley and oats, 59 (58) per cent of canola and 74 (66) per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition.
- Surface and sub-surface soil moisture declined from a week ago and are rated as 81 and 77 per cent good to excellent, respectively, with eight and seven per cent excessive.
- Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 78 per cent good to excellent, compared with the 5-year average of 65 and 64 per cent.
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
July 21, 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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