Provincial Seeding Reaches 90 Percent as Crops Rapidly Emerge
As reported by the AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, crop seeding in Alberta has progressed to 90 percent as of May 27, 2025. This is ahead of the five-year and ten-year averages of 81 percent, reflecting strong momentum across all regions.
The South region leads at 97 percent seeded, followed by Northwest (93%), Central (89%), Northeast (86%), and Peace (84%). Dry peas are nearly complete at 99 percent, while oats are at the lowest with 74 percent.
Crop emergence is improving rapidly, reaching 57 percent across the province—well above the five-year average of 37 percent. Central (65%), Peace (64%), and South (62%) are showing the highest emergence.
However, moisture remains a concern. Dry winds and limited rain have lowered both surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings. Currently, only 48 percent of surface and 49 percent of sub-surface soils are rated good, and 8 percent or less are rated excellent. The Peace region experienced the sharpest decline in moisture.
Pasture conditions are stable at 64 percent good to excellent, exceeding the five-year average of 57 percent. Central leads at 87 percent, while Peace lags at 41 percent. Tame hay growth also shows strength in Central (89%) and Northwest (85%) but remains low in the South (48%) and Peace (40%).
Challenges include insect activity—cutworms and flea beetles—in the South and Peace regions, and strong winds affecting herbicide application and land rolling in some areas.
While Alberta’s seedling and emergence are ahead of schedule, adequate rainfall will be critical for maintaining healthy crops and pasture growth across all regions.
For more information about cutworms, flea beetles, and other pests, as well as diseases and weeds, please visit the Farms.com Field Guide pages.