Crop quality is being reported highly in Central Alberta, according to the latest Alberta Crop Report.
As of this past Monday, crop quality is reported as good to excellent on all major crops, although lentils, chickpeas and mustard are significantly lower in quality compared to all other crops in the region.
Surface soil moisture conditions in the region (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as two (three) per cent poor, 16 (19) per cent fair, 40 (35) per cent good, 32 (31) per cent excellent, and 11 (11) excessive.
Seventy-five per cent of all crops in the province are rated in good or excellent condition, which is only marginally behind both the five- and 10-year averages (74 and 73 per cent, respectively).
Mustard, durum wheat, and potatoes are the lowest rated crops qualitatively, whereas chickpeas, spring wheat, oats and flax are rated in the best condition. Other major crops like barley, canola, and dry peas are relatively in line with long-term provincial averages for this time in the growing season.
Growth and development staging is in general still modestly behind long-term averages. But these delays in growth and development compared to long-term normal are narrowing as the season progresses.
During the first two weeks of June, significant areas of the province received from 40-125 mm of rain and crop reporters are now able to start telling the story of the impact of those rain events.
Prior to the rains and as at the May 31 crop report, province-wide emergence was at 55 per cent and behind the five-year average of 61 per cent. Now, 57 percent of all crops are in the rosette or 7-12 node stage and closer to the five-year average of 60 per cent. The early June rains seem to have given crops the opportunity to advance and catch up closer to long-term average for development and growth.
Additionally, as at the May 31, 2022 crop report and prior to the rains, surface soil moisture across the province was rated as 57 per cent poor or fair and 43 per cent good or excellent. These qualitative surface moisture conditions have now drastically improved to only 19 per cent poor or fair and 76 per cent good to excellent and five per cent excessive.
On the June 28, 2021 crop report, soil moisture was rated as 62 per cent as poor or fair and only 38 per cent as good or excellent. Now, soil moisture is rated as 19 per cent poor or fair, 76 per cent as good or excellent, and five per cent excessive.
Subsoil moisture (below six inches) ratings have also improved. As at May 31, 2022, and prior to the rains, Alberta’s subsoil moisture was rated 63 per cent poor or fair and 37 per cent good or excellent. After early June rainfall those numbers for deeper soil moisture have now improved to 33 per cent poor or fair, 61 per cent good or excellent, and three per cent excessive.
On the pest reports, flea beetle is the most significant pest showing up at beyond threshold levels. Gopher populations are also beyond threshold levels in the Central, South and North East regions.
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