(Reuters) — Alberta farmers have planted two percent of their crops, well behind the normal pace, the government of the Western Canadian province said on Friday in a crop report as of May 5.
The five-year average for planting at this time of year is seven percent complete; the longer-term average is 15 percent.
Lack of prolonged warm weather has hindered soil warming, causing seeding delays.
Seeding is furthest behind the normal pace in southern and east central Alberta.
Ninety-three percent of the province rates surface soil moisture as good or excellent.
