Alberta major crop condition ratings slipped slightly during the past week, as frequent rainfall and excess moisture continued to offset the benefits of strong provincial moisture reserves.
Friday’s weekly crop report showed about 64% of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola and peas) were in good-to-excellent condition as of Tuesday, down from nearly 66% a week earlier. The latest rating remained above the five-year average of 61%, but below the 10-year average of 69%.
Conditions varied sharply by region. The South led the province at 85% good to excellent, followed by the Central region at 81%. Ratings were lower in the Peace region at 58% and the North East at 50%, while the North West trailed at only 29%.
Among individual crops, dry peas had the strongest provincial rating at 74% good to excellent. Barley followed at 70%, spring wheat at 68%, canola at 56% and oats at 50%. Regional differences were pronounced, particularly in the North West, where only 19% of dry peas, 20% of canola and 30% of barley were rated good to excellent.
Frequent soaking rains kept moisture supplies well above seasonal norms across much of Alberta. Provincial surface soil moisture was rated 80% good to excellent, compared with the five-year average of 54% and the 10-year average of 64%.
However, excessive moisture remained a concern in northern areas. Surface soil moisture was rated excessive on 45% of land in the North West and 23% in the North East, compared with a provincial average of 14%. By contrast, excessive moisture covered only 3% of the South and 9% of the Central region.
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