Recent widespread thunderstorms brought much-needed moisture to Alberta crops, confirmed the provincial crop report released Friday. Even so, overall crop development remains ahead of normal, due to the previous hot, dry weather.
The heat stress endured in July has accelerated the maturation of many crops, leading to development stages that are ahead of historical averages for this time of year. For instance, spring wheat and barley are reported to be in the early stages of dough development, while oats have reached the late stages of milk development.
This rapid development has been a double-edged sword: while it has hastened maturity, it has also resulted in some crops failing to meet their full yield potential. The reduced growth in pasture and hay fields during the heatwave has forced many producers to make difficult decisions, including silaging poorer crops to secure sufficient livestock feed for the coming months.
Provincial crop condition ratings reflect the challenges posed by the summer's heat, with a slight decline in overall conditions from the previous week. Currently, 46% of Alberta's crops are rated as being in good or excellent condition, which is notably lower than the five-year average of 56%.
Regionally, the North East saw the most pronounced deterioration in crop conditions, with an 8% decline in the percentage of crops rated good or excellent. The South and Central Regions also experienced declines, with decreases of 3% and 2%, respectively. The Peace Region, in contrast, remained stable, indicating that it has been less affected by the adverse conditions.
Soil moisture levels have shown some improvement thanks to the recent rains. Surface soil moisture rated as good to excellent now stands at 40% across the province, representing a 7% increase from the previous week.
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