As of Aug. 25, scattered moisture within the North West Region, accompanied by warmer weather, has allowed crops to advance.
As a result, major spring cereals are in the mid-dough development stage.
That’s according to the latest crop report by the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta.
Sub-surface soil moisture (five-year average) is rated as zero (17) per cent poor, three (31) per cent fair, 36 (43) per cent good, 43 (eight) per cent excellent and 18 (zero) per cent excessive.
Pasture growth conditions (tame hay growth conditions) are rated as one (zero) per cent poor, 25 (23) per cent fair, 56 (55) per cent good and 19 (22) per cent excellent.
Meantime, all attention has turned to pre-harvest and harvest operations across the province, with progress dependent on where the crop has reached maturity. Those operations continue to progress at a slower rate than historical averages, the report says.
The slower harvest progress continues to reflect the difficult conditions of this wet growing season, which also resulted in slower-than-normal seeding progress, emergence and crop development across the majority of growing areas.
The AFSC says harvest progress continues steadily in the South Region, where minor interruptions from storms were unwelcome as producers are attempting to harvest mature crops quickly to preserve quality. In the Central Region, harvest operations are beginning on early seeded pulses.
In the North East and North West regions, warm weather during the past week helped crops mature in many areas; however, those areas under wildfire smoke noted fewer benefits. Conditions in the North East and North West regions remain unseasonably wet, and further warm weather is needed. Despite these challenges, harvest operations in these regions have begun where crops and fields are ready.
In the Peace Region, harvest has begun on early-seeded crops and operations are expected to increase across the region over the next two weeks.
The provincial percentage of all crops rated in good-to-excellent condition is 61 per cent. For only major crops, the percent in good-to-excellent condition is 59 per cent, according to the report.
Regional major crop conditions reportedly remained stable over the past week, with the percent in good-to-excellent condition (change from last week) at 79 (-1) per cent in the South, 71 (zero) per cent in the Central, 47 (zero) per cent in the North East, 38 (+3) per cent in the North West and 49 (zero) per cent in the Peace.
This week’s provincial dryland yield estimates for major crops are 20 per cent above the five-year average and nine per cent above the 10-year average.
The report says regional dryland crop yields compared to five-year averages (change from two weeks ago) are expected to be 60 (-2) per cent higher in the South, 23 (zero) per cent higher in the Central, two (zero) per cent higher in the North East, one (+2) per cent lower in the North West and nine (zero) per cent higher in the Peace.
Surface soil moisture ratings notably improved in the North East and North West regions, mostly due to warm and dry weather reducing excessive moisture over the past week. Ratings in the South Region also notably dropped despite recent storms.
Provincial surface soil moisture is rated as 54 per cent good-to-excellent.
Regional good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are 38 (-12) per cent in the South, 53 (zero) per cent in the Central, 66 (+11) per cent in the North East, 61 (+5) per cent in the North West and 79 (zero) per cent in the Peace. All regional surface soil good-to-excellent ratings remain above the five-year average for this week, the AFSC reports.
According to the report, provincial sub-surface soil moisture decreased by one per cent over the past week to 54 per cent good-to-excellent. This remains above both the five- and 10-year averages of 37 and 50 per cent good-to-excellent, respectively.
Regional sub-surface soil moisture good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are at 36 (-5) per cent in the South, 43 (+3) per cent in the Central, 67 (+2) per cent in the North East, 79 (+1) per cent in the North West and 88 (-2) per cent in the Peace.
Meantime, pasture and tame hay conditions remain above long-term averages for the majority of the province. Provincial pasture growth conditions remained unchanged from last week at 47 per cent good-to-excellent, above the five-year average rating of 33 per cent and 10-year average rating of 43 per cent.
Regional good-to-excellent pasture growth ratings (change from last week) are at 46 (zero) per cent in the South, 34 (-1) per cent in the Central, 60 (-1) per cent in the North East, 75 (zero) per cent in the North West and 50 (zero) per cent in the Peace.
Provincial tame hay conditions are at 52 per cent good-to-excellent, above the five-year average of 34 per cent and the 10-year average of 48 per cent. Regional tame hay good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are at 45 (-1) per cent in the South, 42 (+7) per cent in the Central, 44 (zero) per cent in the North East, 77 (zero) per cent in the North West and 56 (zero) per cent in the Peace, according to the report.
The second cut of dryland hay is 14 per cent complete across the province with an average estimated yield of 1.9 tons per acre, increased from 1.7 tons per acre two weeks ago.
Regional second cut per cent completion (change over two weeks) is 52 (+5) per cent for the South, 22 (+14) per cent for the Central, five (+2) per cent for the North East and eight (+6) per cent for the North West.
Progress on second cut hay in the North East and North West regions will depend on availability of warm weather in the weeks ahead. Irrigated second cut hay is 61 per cent complete, progressing 21 per cent over the past two weeks. Estimated yield this week is 2.1 tons per acre.
The North West Region includes Barrhead, Drayton Valley, Leduc, Edmonton and Athabasca.
