Planting has essentially wrapped up in Alberta, but most of the province could now use a good rain.
The latest weekly crop report on Friday pegged the seeding of all crops at 97% complete as of Tuesday. However, surface soil moisture is now rated 65% poor to fair, an increase of 18 points on the week, while the good to excellent rating dropped to 34% from 52% a week earlier. The Peace is the only region that had surface soil moisture rated above 50% good to excellent, at 71%.
Provincially, emergence is ahead of the five-year average at 76% for all crops. Dry peas (90%) and spring wheat (86%) are furthest along in total emergence for major crops. Oats (67% emerged) and canola (67% emerged) are both ahead of their five-year averages of 44% and 53%, respectively. Emergence in the South, Central and North East Regions are only slightly ahead of their five-year averages, whereas the North West and Peace Region are 32 and 36 points ahead of their five-year averages, respectively.
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