Despite significant precipitation in parts of the province last week, Alberta producers still had almost 60% of major crops in the ground as of Tuesday.
While many farmers welcomed the rain, some areas reported light snow, hail or near freezing temperatures. Sun and warm weather are needed across the province for the crops to reap the benefit of the recent moisture.
For seeding progress of major crops, dry peas are furthest ahead with 82% complete, while oats are the slowest at 36% complete.
Regionally, the most progress is in the Peace Region with 71% complete followed by the South Region with 71% complete. The region with the most left to seed remains the North East Region with only 42% done.
For all crops, 21% have emerged, 6% ahead of the 5-year average as growth conditions have been moist and favourable for emergence, however, continuously wet soil and cool ground temperatures could hurt plant development.
Following the trends of seeding progress, emergence is furthest ahead in the South at 35% emerged followed by the Central Region with 23% emerged. All other regions are below 15% emergence.
The majority of fall seeded crops in the province are rated in good to excellent conditions except in the Peace Region where it has been reported that some fall seeded crops were tilled up due to poor plant counts, and re-seeded.
Regional Assessments:
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Sporadic rains across the region slowed seeding but seeding progressed 20%. Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is now 70 (71)% complete, compared to the five-year average of 77 (77)%.
• Reported sub-surface moisture (previous week rating) is rated 10 (11)% poor, 37 (39)% fair, 43 (39)% good, 11 (11)% excellent, and 0 (0)% excessive.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Seeding progressed 28% for major crops over the previous week. Progress for all crops (major crops) is 57 (57) complete, compared to the five-year average of 66 (66)%.
• Reported sub-surface moisture (previous week rating) is 5 (17)% poor, 31 (29)% fair, 44 (48)% good, 20 (6)% excellent, and 0 (0)% excessive.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Seeding of major crops progressed 23% over the previous week. Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is 42 (42)% complete, compared to the five-year average of 56 (56)%.
• Reported sub-surface moisture (previous week rating) is 7 (7)% poor, 15 (21)% fair, 57 (59)% good, 21 (12)% excellent, and 1 (1)% excessive.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Seeding of major crops progressed 28% over the past week. Progress for all crops (major crops) is now 49 (49) complete, compared to the five-year average of 47 (48)%.
• Reported sub-surface moisture (previous week rating) is 11 (12)% poor, 24 (30)% fair, 50 (46)%
good, 16 (12)% excellent, and 0 (0)% excessive.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Seeding of major crops progressed 30% over the past week. Seeding progress for all crops (major crops) is now 71 (71)% complete, compared to the five-year average of 44 (44)%.
• Reported sub-surface moisture (previous week) is 2 (5)% poor, 11 (27)% fair, 72 (64)% good, 15 (5)% excellent, and 0 (0)% excessive.
