Alberta Crop Report - May 8, 2008

This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.

The May 8, 2008 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.

Prepared by:
James Wright
Project Manager
Research and Program Development
Lacombe, AB
Telephone: 403-782-8336

Provincial
Seeding operations are off to a slow start in 2008 due principally to cool temperatures which has slowed soil warming and dry down. Most areas of the province have received some precipitation this spring in the form of rain and snow, though not excessive. As a result, surface moisture is generally adequate in all areas of the province to promote good germination but many areas will require precipitation by late May or early June to maintain good growing conditions. Topsoil moisture (0-15 cm) is rated 13% Poor/ 20% Fair/ 47% Good/ 17% Excellent/ 3% Excessive. Subsoil moisture is of greatest concern across much of southern Alberta and in eastern areas along the Saskatchewan border. Subsoil moisture is rated 17% Poor/ 30% Fair/ 39% Good/ 12% Excellent/ 2% Excessive.

As of May 8, approximately 11% of the province had been seeded, principally in southern Alberta. Emergence has been slowed by the cool soil temperatures.

Crop	% Seeded by Region						Prov. Emerge
Crop	South	Central	NE	NW	Peace	Total
Spring Wheat	30.2	7.9	1.8	1.6	0	12.0%	0.4%
Durum Wheat	31.7	8.9	0	---	---	28.5%	1.6%
Barley	33.4	7.9	0	0	0	12.7%	0.7%
Oats	14.4	0.4	0	0	0	1.1%	0.2%
Canola	24.3	4.6	1.4	0.4	0	4.1%	0.1%
Flax	7.0	2.2	0	0	0	2.0%	0%
Mustards	26.1	1.0	0	---	---	16.2%	0%
Field Peas	54.4	11.4	4.8	6.5	0	19.9%	1.4%
Chickpeas	39.0	20.0	---	----	---	37.3%	6.4%
Dry Beans	0	0	---	---	---	0%	0%
Sugar Beets	92.3	---	---	---	---	92.3%	2.5%
Potatoes	63.0	1.7	0	0.2	0	51.5%	0%
Total	31.9 %	7.0 %	1.4 %	0.7 %	0 %	11.46 %	0.52 %

Fall seeded crops have come out of the winter in fair to good condition. There are reports of winterkill which may require working down and reseeding. Early hay and pasture growth has been slowed by the cool conditions which has affected their ratings at 17% Poor/ 34% Fair/ 45% Good/ 4% Excellent.

Southern Alberta
32% of the South region is seeded with approximately 2% emerged. Most areas in southern Alberta have received some precipitation this spring which has benefitted seedbed soil moisture conditions. Virtually all areas will require significant precipitation soon after the completion of seeding to maintain good growth conditions. Subsoil moisture is rated 30% Poor/ 38% Fair/ 27% Good/ 5% Excellent.

Hay & pastures need heat with conditions rated at 11% Poor/ 34% Fair/ 46% Good/ 9% Excellent. Fall seeded crops have come out of the winter in fair to good condition with 69% rated good/excellent showing some effects of the dry conditions in southern Alberta last fall when seeded.

Central Alberta
Seeding has been slow to start principally due to the cool conditions delaying soil dry down. Approximately 7% has been seeded with a small amount of emergence. Spring precipitation in the eastern areas, along the Saskatchewan border, has provided adequate topsoil moisture for good germination but subsoil moisture in this area is very poor. Subsoil moisture for the region is rated
19% Poor/ 27% Fair/ 32% Good/ 17% Excellent/ 5% Excessive.

Fall crops have come through the winter in fair to good condition with 32% rated Fair & 61% rated Good/Excellent. Hay and pastures are rated 9% Poor/ 41% Fair/ 48% Good/ 2% Excellent.

North East Alberta
Seeding has been slow to get underway due to cool temperatures and several late April snow storms with less than 2% seeded. The snow was extremely beneficial in the extreme eastern areas of the region which had entered the winter with low soil moisture. Topsoil moisture is generally good with 25% rated Fair and 65% rated Good/Excellent. Subsoil moisture is of greater concern with 18% of the region rated Poor/ 37% Fair/ 38% Good/ 7% Excellent.

Hay and pasture ratings reflect the slow start to growth due to the cool conditions at 28% Poor/ 34% Fair/ 35% Good/ 3% Excellent. Only 56% of fall seeded crops are rated good/excellent at this time.

North West Alberta
Very little seeding has occurred to date with less than 1% completed. Cool weather has slowed soil drying and frequent precipitation has also been a factor. Topsoil moisture is very good with over 70% of the region rated good/excellent. Subsoil moisture may become a factor in the future with only 50% of the region currently given a good/excellent rating.

Fall seeded crops are rated with only 41% in the good/excellent categories. Hay and pasture ratings reflect the slow start with 33% Poor/ 35% Fair/ 31% Good/1% Excellent.

Peace River Region
No seeding is reported to date as cool temperatures, slow snow melt and precipitation have caused significant delays across the region. Many areas do not expect seeding to become general until May 15th at the earliest. Soil moisture is generally good to very good with 80% of the region rated good or excellent for both topsoil and subsoil moisture.

Fall seeded crops appear to have fared very well over the winter with 80% rated good to excellent. Hay and pastures are rated 4% Poor/ 27% Fair/ 65% Good/ 4% Excellent.

For more information about the content of this document, contact Stacey Tames.
This information published to the web on May 15, 2008.