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Crop Conditions as of July 3, 2018 (Abbreviated Report)
The province endured some erratic weather this past week ranging from strong winds, a little hail, some cooler than normal temperatures and random rainfall.
At this time there is standing water in some fields while others are parched.
Recent rainfalls have contributed to an overall increase in surface soil moisture rated as good or better, moving from 67.3 to 68.3 per cent (See Table 2). Having said that, sub surface soil moisture levels are still low in the majority of the province (See Map). The importance of sub surface soil moisture is increasing with advancing crop stages; more rain is critical to maintain active crop growth and to achieve desired yield potential.
Crop conditions improved in the South and Central regions while the Northeast, Northwest and Peace Regions showed a decline over last week. All of the area crop condition ratings are currently higher than the five year average, particularly Peace and Northeast (See Table 1).
Haying has now begun across all areas of the province. Very few dryland hay yields have been reported, however they are expected to be low in all regions. Pasture conditions have been sustained in areas where rain was received,but all areas could pretty much use rain.
REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2018 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Cooler temperatures and windy conditions were experienced across the region this past week with many areas receiving showers or rainfall and even a bit of hail.
- Spring cereals are in the late booting and early heading stages.
- Crop condition ratings of good or excellent showed a slight increase from 71.0 to 72.7 percent.
- Surface soil moisture with a rating of good or higher is at 59.0 per cent.
- Subsurface soil moisture with a rating of good and above is at 51.4 per cent.
- Pasture ratings showed moderate improvement from 55.7 to 59.1 per cent rated as good or better, while tame hay conditions remained the same.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Spotty rains throughout and predominant wind have left parts of the region dry.
- Spring cereals are in the booting stage with some starting to head, especially in the east.
- Crop condition ratings of good or excellent moved from 63.7 to 69.3 per cent, with canola slightly behind.
- Surface soil moisture with a rating of good or higher is at 65.6 per cent.
- Subsurface soil moisture with a rating of good or higher is at 60.5 per cent.
- Pasture still needs moisture even though ratings moved from 56.8 to 60.0 per cent good or excellent. Tame hay conditions are showing a decline from 54.6 to 52.7 per cent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Dry conditions continued over large areas with some receiving some rain and some not.
- Spring wheat is in the late booting stage while other spring cereals are in late stem elongation stage.
- Crop condition ratings of good or excellent declined from 88.1 to 87.2 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture with a rating of good or higher is at 72.9 per cent.
- Subsurface soil moisture with a rating of good and above is at 81.2 per cent.
- Pasture ratings slipped from 68.5 to 66.2 per cent good or excellent. Tame hay conditions dropped as well from 70.2 to 65.4 per cent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Rainfall was spotty and varied. More rainfall needed for crop progression.
- Wheat is heading, other cereals are booting and canola has started to bloom.
- Crop condition ratings of good or excellent dropped from 80.7 to 73.2 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture with a rating of good or higher is at 57.1 per cent.
- Subsurface soil moisture with a rating of good and above is at 63.6 per cent.
- Pastures are still struggling with ratings up from 30.8 to 38.3 per cent good or excellent. Tame hay was 31.1 and is now 37.2 per cent rated good or excellent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Quite a bit of rain across the region this past week. So much so, that the east and north have reported standing water and yellowed crops.
- All cereals are in the booting stage.
- Crop condition ratings of good are excellent fell from 88.4 to 85.9 per cent.
- Surface soil moisture with a rating of good or higher is at 94.6 per cent.
- Subsurface soil moisture with a rating of good and above is at 85.4 per cent.
- Pasture has increased to 80.8 from 79.2 percent and tame hay was 81.5 and is now 82.7 per cent good or excellent.
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation Z. Sangster & J. Sanden Product Coordinators
Business Risk Management Products Unit email: zsuzsanna.sangster@afsc.ca
Lacombe, Alberta email: jackie.sanden@afsc.ca
July 6, 2018
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 2018 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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