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By Josh Hall

Alberta Crop Report — Conditions as of May 4, 2021

May 10, 2021 | 2:39 PM

EDMONTON, AB. — The first Alberta Crop Report for 2021 is now out, with data up to May 4, 2021 released by Alberta Agriculture and Forestry (AF) in partnership with the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC).

The initial report for the year says most of areas of the province have received lower than normal spring precipitation, amount to one-in-six year lows.

While this is a concern, it says, it has allowed seeding of the spring crops to get off to a fast start. Seeding thus far is at 17.4 per cent, whereas last year at this time, it was at 9.4 per cent. The 5-year average is 10.7 per cent and the 10-year avereage is 9.6 per cent.

“Producers in the South have planted 46 per cent of their crop; the Central area has planted 12 per cent of the acres; North East has planted seven per cent of the acres and the North West has planted four per cent of the acres. The Peace is slightly behind schedule with less than one per cent planted,” the report states.

Nonetheless, the reduced precipitation has resulted in lower surface soil moisture, with 54 per cent of the province having good or excellent conditions. This is 14 points below the previous 5-year average.

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The Peace, however, has had report of excessive moisture in some areas.

Furthermore, the lack of moisture and cool temperatures have resulted in generally poor pasture and tame hay growth, according to this week’s report.

Provincially, about 63 per cent of pasture has been reported as fair or poor, above the 5-year average of 59 per cent. Just 2.9 per cent has been deemed excellent, below the 5-year average of 4.9 per cent.

May 4, 2021 Alberta Crop Report

REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:

Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)

• Spring seeding is well on its way. Sugar beets are leading at 91 per cent, with potatoes at 65 per cent, while dry bean seeding has not yet started. Pulses range from 62 to 76 per cent seeded, cereals have a wide range from approximately 10 up to 85 per cent planted, with oilseeds following at 21 to 40 per cent seeded. Emergence is slow with durum at 15 per cent and other crops well below 10 per cent.

• Fall-seeded crops are thriving with 75 per cent in good to excellent condition.

• Surface soil moisture was affected by drying spring winds, while sub-surface soil moisture is low from limited moisture last year. Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface in brackets) are 56 (58) per cent good or excellent.

• Tame hay and pasture are sluggish to start in many areas due to cool nights and low moisture. Current condition ratings are showing 59 per cent good or excellent for hay and 57 per cent good or excellent for pasture.

• Due to excellent yields last year, forage reserves are estimated to be in notable shape with 81 per cent adequate and nine per cent surplus, while feed grains are 84 per cent adequate and eight per cent surplus. However, the slow movement of cattle to processing plants due to COVID-19 issues has caused increased demand on those reserves.

Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)

• Seeding operations have started, but no crops have emerged yet. Pulse crops are 43 to 53 per cent seeded, durum is ahead of the cereals at 25 per cent, trailed by spring wheat at 16 per cent. The remaining cereals are just getting started, and oilseeds to follow.

• Fall-seeded crops are healthy with 79 per cent in good to excellent condition.

• Soil moisture ratings are variable due to drying winds this spring and some residual moisture from last fall. Surface soil moisture is at 46 per cent good to excellent, with sub-surface at 60 per cent good and excellent.

• Spring hay and pasture growth is ahead in the eastern portion of the region while the western part is just coming out of dormancy with little growth as of yet. Tame hay is rated at 35 per cent (pasture at 40 per cent) good or excellent.

• It is estimated that both forage and feed grain reserves are 94 per cent adequate with three per cent surplus

Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)

• With cool temperatures overnight and dry conditions, seeding has gradually began. Dry peas lead the way at 23 per cent seeded, followed by potatoes at 25 per cent seeded, down to five per cent for spring wheat and one per cent seeded for barley.

• Fall-seeded crops are flourishing, with an estimated 76 per cent rated good, comparable to last year at this time.

• Surface soil moisture has been affected by dry conditions with 46 per cent fair to 48 per cent good. Sub-surface moisture data indicates a higher moisture content estimated to be 75 per cent good to excellence suggesting favorable seeding for cereals.

• Tame hay and pasture has begun growing after a slow start due to dry conditions and cool temperatures, with many nights still dropping below freezing. Current assessment indicates 32 per cent fair to good and 68 per cent poor for hay and 25 per cent fair to good and 75 per cent poor for pasture.

• Estimated forage (feed grain in brackets) reserves are at 71 per cent (59) per cent adequate with up to 10 per cent (22) per cent surplus.

Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)

• Seeding operations have been intermittent due to snowfall or dry conditions in various areas of the region with 10 per cent of peas and corn in the ground, followed by barley with eight per cent of acres planted. No crops have emerged.

• Fall-seeded crops are deficient, with an estimated 85 per cent rated poor and fair.

• The soil moisture situation is in sharp contrast to last spring’s saturated conditions. Surface soil moisture is 50 per cent good and 50 per cent poor to fair and sub-surface moisture is 61 per cent good and 39 per cent poor to fair.

• Perennials have a slow start from cool temperatures. Tame hay condition is estimated at 96 per cent poor to fair and pasture appraised at 93 per cent poor to fair.

• Estimated forage reserves are in good shape with 91 per cent adequate and five per cent surplus. Feed grains are in worse shape because of abundant unseeded and drowned acres in 2020 and are rated as 32 per cent adequate

Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)

• Some spring fertilization and harrowing is taking place, but very little seeding has occurred.

• Soil moisture conditions are positive with both surface and sub-surface soil moisture rated as 80 per cent good or excellent with a few small pockets of excessive moisture.

• Perennial crops have barely begun growing this year. Current estimated condition is approximately 29 per cent good and excellent for both tame hay and pasture.

• Estimated forage (feed grain in brackets) reserves are 72 (73) per cent adequate and 18 (nine) per cent surplus.

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The Alberta Crop Report is scheduled to be released nearly every week until Nov. 5, with information for the week previous becoming public each Friday. Reports will be bi-weekly in July and August.