A large amount of moisture was brought to the middle parts of the province this week with widespread rains, according to the latest Alberta Crop Report.
For Central Region (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen), seeding progress up to May 18 is as follows:
Spring wheat*: 88.5% (up from 43.5% on May 11)
Barley*: 66.1% (up from 29.5%)
Oats*: 61.0% (up from 26.4%)
Canola*: 50.5% (up from 9.2%)
Dry peas*: 96.7% (up from 68.6%)
Mustard: 43.2%
Flax: 39.5%
Potatoes: 58.5%
Chickpeas: 98.0%
Lentils: 95.0%
Corn: 82.5%
All crops: 71.0% (up from 31.5%)
Major crops (*): 71.3%
All crops 5-year average for this week: 56.9%
All crops 10-year average for this week: 59.4%
Pasture growth conditions for Central Region:
Poor: 10.8% (5-year average: 13.6%)
Fair: 21.0% (28.4%)
Good: 66.7% (49.3%)
Excellent: 1.5% (8.7%)
Other Central Region notes, as per Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF) and Alberta Financial Services Corporation (AFSC)
-Seeding was in full swing over the past week and progressed substantially by 40 per cent in the region. About 71 per cent of acres have now been seeded. A few hot days coupled with some showers helped germination of seeded crops and assisted forages starting to grow in most areas. However, germination has been slow in few colder areas.
-Tame hay and pasture fields were in need of moisture, but their conditions should have been improved as a result of the recent precipitation.
-More than 95 per cent of pulses are now seeded, with just over one half of canola acres. Nearly 89 per cent of spring wheat, 66 per cent of barley, 61 per cent of oats and 59 per cent of potatoes are reported as seeded.
-About 17 per cent of seeded acres have now emerged, above the 5-year average of 12 per cent. Spring cereals are mostly in the germination stage, while stage of development for fall seeded crops is variable
-Surface soil moisture is rated at 18 per cent poor, 23 per cent fair, 50 per cent good and 9 per cent excellent.
-Fall seeded crops are rated as 5 per cent poor, 15 per cent fair and 80 per cent good.
The full crop report for the week of May 18 can be found here.
