Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm — Crop conditions continued to improve in Alberta as of June 24 but are faring worse than historical averages, the province said in its weekly crop report.
Major crops were rated 59 per cent good to excellent, 10 points better than the previous week, but down from the 73 per cent five-year average and the 77 per cent 10-year average. Ratings improved by 24 points from the week before in the northwest region at 73 per cent, while there was also a 20-point improvement in the central region at 72 per cent. The northeast and the south were up seven points at 65 and 55 per cent, respectively. The Peace region declined two points at 25 per cent.
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Spring wheat, barley and dry peas were rated at 60 per cent good to excellent, while oats and canola were rated at 58 per cent.
Provincewide, surface soil moisture saw a large improvement from 37 per cent good to excellent on June 17 to 65 per cent a week later. The best rating was in the central region at 76 per cent, followed by the south at 69 per cent, which are above their historical averages at this time of year. The northwest was at 67 per cent, the northeast at 59 per cent and the Peace region at 36 per cent.
Subsurface moisture in Alberta improved by 12 points at 50 per cent good to excellent. The south was 22 points higher than the previous week at 48 per cent, the central region was up 17 points at 59 per cent and the northeast gained nine points at 44 per cent. The northwest lost one point at 49 per cent and the Peace region was down 10 points at 43 per cent.
Pasture growth conditions still lagged behind historical averages at 41 per cent good to excellent in Alberta, the same rating as the previous week. This is compared to the 61 per cent five-year average and the 59 per cent 10-year average. However, rains across the province caused more greening and regrowth. The central region gained seven points at 53 per cent, the northeast was up one point at 33 per cent, the northwest was down two points at 59 per cent, the Peace region declined four points at 22 per cent and the south dropped six points at 33 per cent.
Tame hay growth declined one point in the province at 37 per cent good to excellent. The central region was up six points at 49 per cent, the northeast was up three points at 28 per cent, the northwest and the south were down three points at 54 per cent and 30 per cent, respectively and the Peace region fell six points at 20 per cent.
Heavy pasture weed growth in the south and Peace regions was reported at eight and 10 per cent, respectively.
