Alberta major crop condition ratings have fallen sharply amid prolonged heat and dryness.
Friday’s weekly crop report pegged the overall condition of major crops in the province (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola, and peas) at 55% good to excellent as of Tuesday, down 18 points from a week earlier and now below the five- and 10-year averages of 57% and 62%. It marks the first time this growing season, crop ratings have dropped below the average.
Following cool temperatures at the beginning of the growing season, the last 30-day average daily mean temperature has been above the long-term normal temperature for most of the province, the report said. And while rain and marginally cooler temperatures are in the near-term forecast, “the true effects of the prolonged heat and potential positive impacts of rain will be unknown for a few weeks.”
Major crop conditions have fallen the hardest in the province’s North West Region, plummeting to just 38% good to excellent from 78% a week earlier. In the Central Region, major crop ratings fell 30 points to 32% good to excellent, while Peace fell 16 points to 57%. Crop conditions are holding up the best in the South Region at 77% good to excellent, down just 5 points from the previous week, while North East ratings were down 9 points at 63%.
As for the individual crops, the provincial spring wheat crop was rated 60% good to excellent as of Tuesday, a fall of 13 points on the week. The oat and barley crops dropped to 53% and 56% good to excellent from 70% and 73%, while canola fell to 49% from 72%. The pea crop was down to 65% good to excellent from 79%.
Precipitation the past week was sporadic with only a few small areas, mostly along the west side of the province, receiving up to 30 mm, while most other areas received nothing. The western Peace Region received between 15 and 80 mm. However, most of the province still needs precipitation as areas that have experienced excessive moisture are now drying up due to prolonged heat, the report said.
Surface soil moisture across the province was rated 35% good to excellent as of Tuesday, well below the five- and 10-year averages of 57% and 58%.
Crop staging is only marginally ahead of the historical average as major crops across the province are just nearing the end of flowering. Some spring wheat has started milk development, while oats are still halfway through flowering.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Spring wheat flowering nears an end, while barley and oats have started milk development. Crops are rated 77 per cent good to excellent, down from last week’s rating of 82 per cent and the 5-year average of 50 per cent.
• Sporadic rains and the odd thunderstorm happened but not enough to positively influence soil moisture. The South Region currently needs moisture to maintain yields and crop health. Sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated as 15 per cent poor, 53 per cent fair, 31 per cent good, 0 per cent excellent and 0 per cent excessive.
• First cut hay is mostly complete though second cut growth will need moisture to continue growing. Pastures are declining as hot weather continues. Pasture is currently rated as 10 per cent poor, 35 per cent fair, 51 per cent good and 4 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Major crops rated good to excellent decreased significantly from 62 per cent last week to 32 per cent now. Cereals are nearing the end of flowering due to heat stress. There is also staging variability depending on when fields were seeded, ranging from booting to dough development.
• Some areas of the Central Region experienced small moisture pockets and damaging hail that left sub-surface soil moisture rated as 53 per cent poor, 30 per cent fair, 15 per cent good, 2 per cent excellent and 0 per cent excessive.
• Some producers are planning to silage more of their crops due to recent low expectations for a second cut and to ensure feed availability. Pasture is currently rated 33 per cent poor, 23 per cent fair, 45 per cent good and 0 per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Crops are struggling with heat stress as canola is experiencing shortened flowering stages and aborting kernels/pods.
• Areas in the North East that originally had excessive moisture are now dry as spotty moisture and hail have not improved the surface or sub-surface soil moisture. Currently, sub-surface soil moisture is rated as 21 per cent poor, 38 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, 1 per cent excellent and 0 per cent excessive.
• Similar to other regions, first cut hay quality is reported to be good but second growth is minimal, and farmers are starting to silage crops that are exhibiting signs of heat damage. Currently, pasture is rated as 37 per cent poor, 15 per cent fair, 44 per cent good and 4 per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Crops experienced heat stress with cereals reported to be aborting tillers, and canola and peas showing the effects of heat blast. Spring cereals are on average near the end of flowering.
• Moisture is quickly depleting, even in areas of sloughs or standing water. Currently, regional sub-surface soil moisture is rated as 34 per cent poor, 40 per cent fair, 24 per cent good, 1 per cent excellent and 0 per cent excessive.
• Tame hay second cut and pasture are struggling as farmers are starting to silage barley or poor crops showing heat damage. Pasture is currently rated 42 per cent poor, 30 per cent fair, 26 per cent good and 2 per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• The Peace Region has had three consecutive weeks of hot weather that has interfered with canola and pea growth. This week’s major crops decreased from 73 per cent last week, to 57 per cent good to excellent this week.
• Pasture conditions are rated as 7 per cent poor, 29 per cent fair, 55 per cent good, 9 per cent excellent.
• Even though sub-surface soil moisture in the Peace is the highest rated in the province, conditions are still below their historical averages. Currently, sub-surface soil moisture is rated as 3 per cent poor, 44 per cent fair, 49 per cent good, 4 per cent excellent and 0 per cent excessive.
