Alberta Crop Report as of June 20, 2023

Crop Report, provided by the Government of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, as of June 20, 2023:

'Precipitation ranging from 0 to more than 175 mm across the province has substantially improved surface soil moisture conditions in most regions. As of June 13, surface soil moisture rated good to excellent in the North West and Central Regions was 17 and 19 per cent, respectively. After localized showers in these regions, conditions rated good to excellent in the North West and Central Regions increased by 68 and 27 per cent, respectively. A big improvement was also seen in the North East Region, which improved by 57 per cent. However, some areas in the Central and North West reported excessive moisture with standing water in some fields. Additionally, previous very dry areas across the northern Peace Region along with parts of the Southern Region and eastern portions of the Central Region received little or no rain and remain in need of moisture.

Crop conditions improved 9 per cent provincially since June 13 and at 50 per cent good to excellent, are currently 28 per cent and 26 per cent behind the 5- and 10-year average, respectively. Crop conditions improved in all regions, with substantial gains reported for the Central and North West Regions. However, crop conditions are still 25-42 per cent below the 5-year average in the South, Central, North East and North West and 2 per cent below the 5-year average (1 per cent ahead of the 10-year) in the Peace Region. Following the recent precipitation, warm weather is needed to advance crops. Major cereals are currently, on average, at their 6th node of stem elongation slightly ahead of the 5- and 10-year averages.

Overall, good to excellent rated surface soil moisture conditions rose 29 per cent and sub-surface soil moisture ratings increased 14 per cent over the past week. Overall, surface soil moisture (10-year average in brackets) is rated at 13 (8) per cent poor, 28 (19) per cent fair, 38 (44) per cent good, 19 (26) per cent excellent and 2 (4) rated excessive. Currently, the North East, North West and Peace Regions’ surface soil moisture is rated above 50 per cent good to excellent. Precipitation was heaviest in the North West which had 70 to more than 175 mm across the region. The South Region saw minimal showers, but northern parts of the region received up to 50 mm (see map on second page). Currently, sub surface soil moisture (10-year average in brackets) is rated as 20 (8) per cent poor, 35 (23) per cent fair, 32 (46) per cent good, 13 (21) per cent excellent and 0 (3) per cent excessive.

Pasture and hay conditions slightly improved over the past week in some regions but decreased in the South and Central. Provincially, tame hay growth ratings did not change, and pasture growth ratings decreased by 2 per cent. Recent rains may have been too late for some pasture and hay fields that had already progressed faster than normal due to excessive heat and dryness. Forage growth will come later if adequate heat follows soon in areas that received surplus rain. Tame hay is rated as (10-year average in brackets) 31 (10) per cent poor, 35 (23) per cent fair, 30 (51) per cent good, and 4 (17) per cent excellent. Pasture conditions are rated as (10-year average in brackets) 31 (11) per cent poor, 32 (24) per cent fair, 35 (51) per cent good and 3 (13) per cent excellent.

Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)

• Crop conditions are rated at 72 per cent good to excellent, 1 per cent ahead of the 10-year average and consistent with last week.
• While other regions are ahead of their typical growth stage due to stress and heat, the Peace Region is still tillering, averaging out between the 5- and 10-year averages.
• Precipitation in the Peace Region the past few weeks has kept surface soil conditions on track near the 5- and 10-year average and helped surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions increase 13 and 5 per cent, respectively, since last week. Surface soil moisture is now rated at (sub-surface soil moisture ratings shown in brackets) 4 (5) per cent poor, 20 (26) per cent fair, 36 (37) per cent good and 38 (32) per cent excellent, with 2 (0) per cent excessive.
• Pasture and tame hay conditions rated as good to excellent increased 1 and 3 per cent, respectively. Pasture is rated at (tame hay conditions in brackets) 9 (9) per cent poor, 35 (33) per cent fair, 46 (48) per cent good, and 10 (10) per cent excellent.

To read the full report on all regions head to their website: https://open.alberta.ca/publications/2830245