Only half of Southern Albertan crops rated “Good to Excellent”

Aug 21, 2019 | 11:49 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The latest report from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AAF) is not painting a bright picture in Southern Alberta, but it does depend on what you are growing.

In the region that encompasses communities like Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Strathmore, and Foremost, 50.2% of all crops were rated Good to Excellent as of August 13th. That number is down from 57% in late June.

The 10-year average for this time of year is 63.9%.

Chickpeas are faring the worst with just 26.3% being in that category , while lentils were at 27.2% and durum wheat is at 38.3%.

At the top end are potatoes at 93.4%. 84.5% of fall rye is good to excellent, as is 57.7% and 57.4% of flax and oats respectively. Canola was just under that at 53.7%.

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“Weather turned cooler in some counties, delaying harvest operations. Hailstorms in the first week of August damaged some mature crops. Peas in some fields are being desiccated,” reads the report from AAF.

Approximately four percent of pasture growing conditions are rated excellent, 31% are good, 38% fair, and 27% poor.

Harvests are underway in many farms across Southern Alberta with around 10% of crops having been picked.

by David Opinko