Canola Field beginning to flower - LNN

By Dori Modney with files from AFSC

Mid July crop report provides concerning picture for Alberta

Jul 16, 2021 | 2:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB. — If you drive across from one area of the province to another, it’s easy to notice similar crops developing at a different rate.

Lack of moisture and intense heat are the culprits.

The Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) sponsors crop reporting surveys, which are not a particular bright spots right now.

The record-breaking heat at the end of June, which continued into early July, brought extremely warm air and drying wind across the province. The high temperatures either rapidly advanced the development of crops or stunted their growth.

At the same time, precipitation has been minimal over the past two weeks, with some areas having received moisture in the form of thunderstorms, while many others received nothing. The deteriorating crop growing conditions have resulted in potentially reduced yields. Crops and forages in most areas are in need of immediate moisture and cooler temperatures to make any recovery.

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Crop Report as of July 13, 2021 – graphics credit to AFSC

Compared to the previous report, conditions as of June 28 show provincial growing conditions dropped 32 per cent and are now rated as 37 per cent good to excellent, below the provincial 5-year average of 74 per cent and the 10-year average of 73 per cent.

Crop growing condition dropped for all regions, with the North East Region deteriorating the most (down 50 per cent), followed by the Peace (down 48 per cent) and North West Region (down 45 per cent).

Conditions in the Central Region deteriorated 18 per cent and in the South it was down 16 per cent.

Right now, growing conditions are the best in the Central Region, with 59 per cent of all crops rated as good or excellent, while the worst conditions are reported in the Peace and North West Regions where crop conditions are rated at 18 and 27 per cent good or excellent, respectively.

About 33 per cent of crops in the South and 35 per cent in the North East are rated as good or excellent. Detailed information can be found at the Alberta Crop Report

Year over year precipitation deficits now exceed 1 in 50 year lows in some areas.