Despite some dryness in parts of the south and in the Peace River region, crop emergence is running ahead of the average pace in Alberta.
Spring conditions have generally been favourable for plant emergence, with 91% of all major crops in the province emerged as of Tuesday, according to the latest weekly crop report on Friday. That is an increase of 17 points on the week and is ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 82% and 86%.
Spring wheat in the province was 94% emerged as of Tuesday, six points ahead of the five-year average, while barley was 87% emerged compared to 80% on average. Oats were 81% emerged versus 66% for the average. Canola was 87% emerged, 10 points ahead of average, and peas were 98% emerged, 7 points ahead.
Seeding is now considered complete, with very few acres of barley or oats left to plant for feed in the province’s Central, North East and North West regions.
Surface soil moisture in the province was rated 6% poor, 23% fair, 55% good, 15% excellent and 1% excessive as of Tuesday, compared to 3% poor, 22% fair, 59% good, 16% excellent and 0% excessive a week earlier.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Warm temperatures and windy conditions reported throughout most of the region in the last week. Crops will soon be in need of rain to continue growth. Hail reported in Cypress County, Vulcan, and Foothills.
• Some wind damage on small emerging crops.
• Spring-seeded cereals are midway through the tillering stage of the Zadocs growth scale, with most crops having four or five tillers.
• Surface moisture (sub-surface moisture in brackets) rating are 5 (8) per cent poor, 36 (38) per cent fair, 55 (52) per cent good, and 4 (2) per cent excellent.
• Tame hay conditions (pasture shown in brackets) are rated 4 (3) per cent poor, 31 (30) per cent fair, 59 (62) per cent good, and 6 (5) per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Warm weather early in the week followed by weekend precipitation, up to 40 mm, was reported in the region. Hail was reported in the Acadia, and Special Areas 2 and 3.
• Barley and oats are nearing the end of the seedling stage of the Zadocs growth scale, with six or seven leaves unfolded, while spring wheat has just entered the tillering stage.
• Surface moisture (sub-surface moisture in brackets) rating are 6 (10) per cent poor, 14 (16) per cent fair, 50 (48) per cent good, 28 (26) per cent excellent, and 2 (0) per cent rated as excessive.
• Tame hay conditions (pasture shown in brackets) are rated 6 (8) per cent poor, 14 (18) per cent fair, 64 (64) per cent good, and 16 (10) per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Warm temperatures and windy conditions reported throughout most of the region in the last week.
• Western part of region reporting some reseeded canola due to hard soil crusting caused by heavy rains right after seeding.
• Spring-seeded cereals are midway through the seedling stage of the Zadocs growth scale, with most crops having four to eight leaves unfolded.
• Surface moisture (sub-surface moisture in brackets) rating are 5 (2) per cent fair, 68 (40) per cent good, 26 (57) per cent excellent, and 1 (1) per cent rated as excessive.
• Tame hay conditions (pasture shown in brackets) are rated 17 (4) per cent poor, 45 (36) per cent fair, 35 (53) per cent good, and 3 (7) per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Warm temperatures mixed with some rainfall reported throughout most of the region in the last week.
• Heavy rains and a high water table mixed with heavier soil has led to small pockets of flooded and unseedable acres southeast of Edmonton.
• Spring-seeded cereals are midway through the seedling stage of the Zadocs growth scale, with most crops having three to six leaves unfolded.
• Surface moisture (sub-surface moisture in brackets) rating are 0 (4) per cent poor, 15 (30) per cent fair, 70 (53) per cent good, 14 (13) per cent excellent, and 1 (0) per cent rated as excessive.
• Tame hay conditions (pasture shown in brackets) are rated 1 (0) per cent poor, 20 (19) per cent fair, 75 (77) per cent good, and 4 (4) per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Dry and windy conditions prevailed throughout the region last week.
• Spring-seeded cereals are midway through the seedling stage of the Zadocs growth scale, with most crops having four or five leaves unfolded.
• Surface moisture (sub-surface moisture in brackets) rating are 19 (16) per cent poor, 45 (46) per cent fair, 32 (32) per cent good, and 4 (6) per cent excellent.
• Tame hay conditions (pasture shown in brackets) are rated 15 (17) per cent poor, 45 (45) per cent fair, 33 (32) per cent good, and 7 (6) per cent excellent.
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