Alberta
South
- Rain fell June 21-22, the first since June 5.
- Fall-seeded crops are heading.
- Dry conditions with seasonally average temperatures in the southern foothills.
- Pastures improving with recent rain, but in less than average condition in the foothills and in the eastern region near the Saskatchewan border.
- Crop emergence is patchy from Calgary to Medicine Hat, but development is improving.
Central
- Crop emergence is good, but drought conditions have damaged crops.
- Poor subsoil moisture in most areas.
- Higher temperatures last week stressed late and frost-damaged crops where moisture conditions were poor.
- Fall-seeded crops are fair and heading.
- Forty-five mm of rain fell June 15 and smaller amounts June 18-22.
- Half of pastures in poor condition and declining.
- Drought stretches from Sundre to Calgary, east to Brooks and north to Oyen and to Wainwright and west to Edmonton, as well as near Rimbey and Rocky Mountain House.
Read Also
Federal government supports soil health strategy
Sophie Beecher, director general at Agriculture Canada, said at a soil conference in Winnipeg that the feds support the idea of a national soil health strategy.
Northwest
- Crop conditions generally fair to good and declining with lack of rain.
- Frost- and drought-damaged crops are being reseeded.
- Fifty percent of pastures poor and declining from lack of moisture and cool temperatures earlier in the season.
- Poor subsoil moisture in most areas.
Northeast
- Crop emergence is good.
- Fall-seeded crops in poor condition.
- Only 14 mm of moisture has fallen in the Vegreville area since June 1.
- Forage crops are generally poor.
- Pastures are rated as poor to fair.
Peace and B.C.
- Surface moisture is generally good with excessive moisture north of Grande Prairie.
- Crop is generally in good condition, improving over the past week due to warmer temperatures.
- Pastures in good condition and improving with recent heat.
- Most crops appear to be two weeks behind the average.
Saskatchewan
Southwest
- Emergence is good.
- Plant growth improved as heat arrived in the region. A few early-seeded spring crops are equal to, or ahead of 2008, but most crops are behind last year.
- Pastures are later than average due to cold and repeated frost.
- Up to 20 mm of rain fell June 21-22, improving crop and pasture conditions.
Southeast
- Crop emergence good.
- Moisture conditions good and improving from 50 mm of rain that fell in some areas.
- Crops are late.
- Some canola evaluated for replacement due to frost damage.
- Severe damage to alfalfa. Repeated frost killed new stands and 2008 plantings.
- Early-seeded crops are frost damaged, and replanting continues with greenfeed cereals and Polish canola.
- More than half of spring crops in good condition.
- Pastures average, with uneven growth due to frost damage.
West-central
- Drought conditions overall. Seventy-five mm of rain fell June 15 and June 21, improving failing crops near Saskatoon. Thirty mm fell at Rosetown and Kindersley June 21.
- Drought serious north of South Saskatchewan River in the Rosetown-Kindersley area, which is approaching near record dry. Only 10 percent of topsoil moisture is reported as adequate despite this week’s rain.
East-central
- Crops in good to fair condition. Drier conditions at Yorkton, while improved moisture at Kamsack reflected the rain pattern in the region.
- Soil moisture 60 percent adequate and declining.
- Frost damage to alfalfa and early emerged canola is reported.
Northwest
- Crop emergence is good with patchiness.
- Up to 20 mm of rain fell June 21 in the Shellbrook area, while seven mm fell at Lloydminster. Less than half of topsoil has adequate supplies.
- Seventy-five percent of pastures are short of moisture and declining in condition.
Northeast
- Crop emergence is good with 15 to 25 mm of rain in the Nipawin area.
- Winter crops rated in good condition. Half of spring crops in good condition but well behind average for development.
- Pastures in good to fair condition with delayed maturity due to cold weather.
Manitoba
Southwest
- New frost damage has occurred. Canola frost losses near 15 percent near Pilot Mound.
- Cereals are in the four leaf to tillering phases and canola in the two to three leaf stage.
- Pasture condition improving, but generally poor.
- Moisture is adequate in most areas.
Southeast and Red River Valley
- Cereals are in the emerged to tillering phases, canola at two to three leaf stage and flax at two inches with corn, soybeans, edible beans and sunflowers emerging.
- Frost damage to many crops, especially canola, ranging from none to 15 percent in the western area.
- First cut forage yields reported as poor to fair. Alfalfa blooming has started with some grass heading in the southern areas.
Central and Interlake
- Many areas will not likely be seeded this spring because of wet conditions.
- Grain and oilseed seeding completed.
- Fall-seeded crops in poor to fair condition.
- Cereals from two leaf to tillering stages. Canola two to three leaf stage.
- Pastures are generally good, but delayed.
- Frost damage to alfalfa, with first cut hay behind in timing and yield.
- Post-emergent weed control starting. Weed problems in both crop and hay land.
Northwest
- Rain along the Saskatchewan border has aided late crops.
- Seeding complete in the late wet areas of Sifton, Alonsa and Ethelbert. Poorly drained land may go unseeded.
- Fall-seeded crops rated in fair condition and improving.
- Pastures and hay land in fair to good condition, but biomass yield is suffering.
- Cereals in the two leaf to tillering phases with canola in two to three leaf stage.
Conditions as of June 22.
