Alberta Crop Report - June 18, 2024

As seeding finishes up across the province, the majority of crops need warm weather. Even though some areas still need more rain, many areas around the province have reported surplus moisture and require consecutive hot days to aid in crop development and health. Each region, except the Peace, had reports of light frost that could affect young plants but the full effect on crops will be known in the upcoming weeks. There were also reports of snow in the South Region, and minor reports of damaging hail across the province. Crop conditions are still ahead of the historical averages provincially, as 73 per cent of all crops are rated in good to excellent condition compared to the 5-year average (10-year average) of 69 (70) per cent good to excellent (Table 1). Currently, crop growth stages of spring cereals are slightly behind in all regions except for the Peace, which is significantly ahead. The province is on track for cereal growth staging compared to the 5-year average. As for major broadleaf crops, the Central and North West Region tend to have more crops in early leaf/node stages than the 5-year average, but the South, North East, and Peace Region trend ahead of the 5-year staging average.  

Similar to the 5- and 10-year average of 98 per cent, 96 per cent of the province has reportedly started post-emergent spraying. The common theme is that spraying is progressing slowly due to rain, wind, and wet fields. Currently, 49 per cent of projected spraying is complete. With reports of excess moisture this year, there is a chance of increased disease pressures. As for pest pressures, wireworms and root maggots are the only pest reported with moderate or over threshold presence above the 5-year average. However, regionally the South Region has a strong presence of gophers, grasshoppers, and flea beetles, as does the Central Region with gophers. 

Precipitation continued this week with most areas receiving at least 5-10 mm of rainfall. Areas in the Peace Region, south west parts of the Central Region, and north west parts of the South Region, had 30-80 mm of precipitation. While some areas still need more rain or are content with current rainfall, the cool month has left crops unable to reach full potential given the current moisture (Map 1). Areas in the Peace, North West and North East Regions have reported standing water as seen by the large amount of excessive surface soil moisture reported in Table 2. Reports in the Peace stated that some crops were turning yellow. However, incoming forecasts predict mid to high 20-degree weather around the province that could help improve these growing conditions. 

Currently, provincial surface soil moisture (5-year average) is rated as 3 (16) per cent poor, 18 (23) per cent fair, 61 (40) per cent good, 15 (19) per cent excellent, and 3 (3) per cent excessive (Table 2). For provincial sub-surfaces (5-year average) conditions are rated as 9 (17) per cent poor, 29 (27) per cent fair, 49 (38) per cent good, 12 (16) per cent excellent, and 2 (2) per cent excessive. 

Pasture and tame hay continue to be very green around the province but, as with the crops, need heat to reap the full benefits of the moisture. Tame hay conditions rated good to excellent increased in all regions, except for the North East which decreased 2 per cent. Currently, tame hay conditions (5-year average) are rated as 76 (58) per cent good to excellent provincially, 69 (52) per cent good to excellent in the South Region, 81 (64) good to excellent in the Central Region, 70 (49) per cent good to excellent in the North East Region, 85 (68) per cent good to excellent in the North West Region, and 69 (54) per cent good to excellent in the Peace Region (Table 3). Some areas reported pasture grass heading out and tame hay flowering due to lack of warmth to encourage more growth. In the South, Central, and North West Regions there are reports of dairy silage and first cut hay starting to be knocked down. The majority of pastures are reported to be green but may be lacking optimal growth due to few high temperature days. In the South and Peace Region, some pastures do not have enough plant canopy to compete with hardy weed growth that has also been accelerated by the rain. Pasture weed growth is heaviest in the South, where 12 per cent of the region is considered to have heavy growth, and the Peace, at 3 per cent. All other regions are rated under one per cent heavy growth. Currently, pasture growth conditions (5-year average) are rated as 75 (55) per cent good to excellent provincially, 68 (49) per cent good to excellent in the South Region, 80 (58) per cent good to excellent in the Central Region, 77 (56) per cent good to excellent in the North East Region, 84 (64) per cent good to excellent in the North West Region, and 70 (54) per cent good to excellent in the Peace Region