Alberta Crop Report - July 22, 2025
Precipitation this week has brought some relief to crop conditions in certain areas, though prolonged hot and dry weather continues to be a challenge to crops and pastures in other regions. Growing season rainfall remains below average in most regions. Despite these challenges, provincial major crops conditions are relatively stable at 65 per cent rated good to excellent, above the 5- and 10-year averages of 55 and 60 per cent, respectively (Table 1). Major crops rated good to excellent are above the 5- and 10-year averages in most regions, except for the Peace Region, where conditions are below average for both, and the North East Region, which is below the 10-year average. Crop conditions improved in the South and Central Regions but declined in the North East, North West, and Peace Regions due to moisture stress. Major crops growth is ahead of average across the province, with spring wheat and barley in early milk development and oats in late flowering to early milk stage.
Provincially, heavy pasture weed growth is low at 1 per cent, but the Peace Region reports the highest level at 12 per cent. Pest concerns are raised in most regions, with grasshopper populations drawing concerns, particularly in the North East, North West, and Peace Regions, due to continued dry conditions. In the South Region, lygus bugs are being monitored and lentil disease is emerging due to recent wet weather. In the Central Region, excessive moisture has raised the potential risk of root rot in pulse crops, as well as fungal disease.
Scattered rainfall has improved soil moisture in parts of the province. In the Central Region, heavy and consistent rain resulted in 4 per cent of surface soil moisture rated as excessive, with some areas experiencing waterlogging. Some areas in the North East Region received up to two inches, while others had little to none, resulting in patchy soil moisture conditions. The Peace and North West Regions remain a concern, as limited rainfall has left soils dry and crops under increasing moisture stress.
Currently, the provincial surface soil moisture rated as good to excellent is at 57 per cent, up from 53 per cent last week (Table 2). Regionally, the highest rating for good to excellent surface soil moisture is in the Central Region at 88 per cent, followed by the South at 50 per cent, North East at 48 per cent, North West at 43 per cent, and Peace Region at 22 per cent.
However, while an increase in good to excellent sub-surface moisture conditions is observed in the Central and North East Regions, conditions remained relatively stable in the South Region, and have declined in the North West and Peace Regions. Sub-surface soil moisture (weekly change) rated as good to excellent is 48 (+1) per cent provincially, 35 (-1) per cent in the South Region, 80 (+10) per cent in the Central Region, 41 (+2) per cent in the North East Region, 35 (-6) per cent in the North West Region, and 27 (-10) per cent in the Peace Region.
Tame hay conditions differ across regions, with lower yields reported in the North East, North West, and Peace regions due to drought and poor regrowth. Recent rains in the South and Central Regions have improved growth, though excessive moisture in the Central Region has delayed harvest and reduced hay quality. Currently, provincial tame hay condition rated as good to excellent has increased slightly to 42 per cent, up from 40 per cent last week. Conditions rated as good to excellent remained relatively stable or improved in most regions. Regional conditions for tame hay (last week) are rated at 34 (31) per cent good to excellent in the South, 71 (65) per cent good to excellent in the Central, 25 (23) per cent good to excellent in the North East, 48 (50) per cent good to excellent in the North West, and 20 (19) per cent good to excellent in the Peace Regions.
Similarly, pasture growth is improving in some regions due to recent rainfall, particularly in the Central Region. Provincially, pasture is rated 52 per cent good to excellent, up from 48 per cent last week and above the 5- and 10-year averages of 49 per cent (see Table 3). Regionally, pasture conditions rated as good to excellent (last week) are 39 (39) per cent in the South, 83 (71) per cent in the Central, 30 (28) per cent in the North East, 48 (51) per cent in the North West, and 23 (23) per cent in the Peace.
Regional Assessment
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Crops such as spring wheat, barley, and oats, are in early milk development stages. Major crops are under stress, with good to excellent conditions decreasing to 22 per cent from 28 per cent last week.
- Pasture and hay growth remain a concern due to ongoing dryness, with tame hay and pasture rated at 20 and 23 per cent good to excellent respectively, well below the 5-year averages of 53 per cent.
- Surface and sub-surface moisture levels are low, at 22 and 27 per cent good to excellent, significantly below the 5-year averages of 62 per cent.
- Grasshopper populations are of noted concern across much of the region, adding pressure to already stressed crops.
Contact Us
Saddle Hills
Junction of Hwy 49 & Secondary Hwy 725
RR1, Spirit River AB
T0H 3G0
T. 780-864-3760
Fax 780-864-3904
Toll-free 1-888-864-3760
frontdesk@saddlehills.ab.ca
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