75 per cent of crops rated in good to excellent condition

Precipitation over the last couple of weeks has been mixed across the province. 

Less than 10 mm of rain was reported in the Peace and south eastern parts of the province, while 40 to 50 mm was reported in the central parts of the province with many areas receiving more than 100 mm.

Those storms brought light to moderate hail damage in many areas.

Ashan Shooshtarian, a Crop Statistician with Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development put together the latest report.

Compared to the last crop report (conditions as of June 27), crop growing conditions in the province remained practically unchanged, with 75 per cent of crops rated in good to excellent condition, above the provincial 5-year average of 65 per cent and the 10-year average of 69 per cent (see Table 1). Regionally, crop growing conditions are currently the best in the North East Region, with 82 per cent of all crops rated as good or excellent, while the lowest rating is reported in the South Region, at 64 per cent good or excellent. About 78 per cent of crops in the Central and Peace Regions and 76 per cent in the North West Region are rated as good or excellent.

Overall, the stage of development for various crops are marginally behind normal. Wheat is generally in good condition, but barley and oats are struggling in some fields, due to excess moisture. For canola, stage of development varies widely across the province and even within fields, from the vegetative stage to well into flowering. This variability is driven by several factors, including select seed performance issues (which can delay the crop development), a cool and dry spring and pest problems, notably flea beetles and cutworms.

According to the latest report pastures are generally doing well.

Provincial pasture conditions across the province are now reported as 11 per cent poor, 34 per cent fair, 46 per cent good and 9 per cent excellent.

Haying has been a challenge with the rains in June and the slow growth this spring, even so, above average yields are expected.

First cut dryland hay is only 19 per cent complete across the province, compared to the 5-year average of 46 per cent. The estimated yield of dryland hay is 1.6 tons per acre (above the 5-year average of 1.4 tons per acre), with quality rated as 65 per cent good to excellent. For irrigated hay, first cut is 27 per cent complete (significantly behind the 5-year average of 81 per cent), with yield at 2.2 tons per acre (below the 5-year average of 2.4 tons per acre). Quality is rated as 69 per cent good to excellent.