Warm weather is helping crops progress, but saturated ground continues to stress crops in the Lloydminster area.
Crops in the Lloydminster area are still fighting saturated ground, even as warm weather pushes development forward.
The North East region, which includes Vermilion, Camrose and Provost, is rated 51.6 per cent good to excellent as of July 14, essentially unchanged from the week before. That is 11 points below the region’s five-year average of 63 per cent, according to the latest Alberta crop report.
The ground remains saturated in many areas and continues to stress crops, though recent heat is helping them progress, the report said.
The first spikelet of the crop head is just becoming visible for most spring cereals in the region. Seventy per cent of canola and 78 per cent of dry peas are flowering.
Producers are applying both ground and aerial fungicide to fight disease pressure brought on by the excess moisture.
Tame hay is reported to be thriving in the region despite the wet ground, rated 88 per cent good to excellent. Cutting is delayed in some areas because the ground is too soft to support equipment.
Provincewide, major crops are rated 64 per cent good to excellent, consistent with the week before and above the five-year average of 59 per cent, though still below the 10-year average of 67 per cent.
The South region leads the province at 85 per cent, followed by Central at 81 per cent. The North West region remains lowest at 31.3 per cent, though that is up two points from the previous week.
Canola and oats posted the lowest ratings of any major crop provincewide, at 56 and 50 per cent, as both struggle with excess moisture in the North West and North East. Dry peas remain the top-rated crop at 72 per cent.
Surface soil moisture provincewide dropped to 73 per cent good to excellent from 80 per cent the week before, as drainage begins catching up with recent rain. The North East saw a smaller drop, down two points to 75 per cent.
Pest pressure remains a concern in some regions. Gophers were reported above threshold levels in Central and North West Alberta, ranging from six to 10 per cent of monitored acres.
Producers with questions can reach the Agriculture and Irrigation Statistics and Data Development Section by email at TEDA-Branch@gov.ab.ca.
Read more: AB Crop Report: Wet weather stalls Lloyd-area crop growth
