Unseeded acres in south
Crops remain three weeks behind normal development due to the cool, wet spring. Unseeded acres will be lower than expected.
Less than 500,000 acres will go unseeded in Alberta, with most unseeded acres in the southern part of the province.
Conditions have improved substantially from mid June. Cereals are 65 percent good to excellent, canola 56 percent good to excellent and peas and 73 percent good to excellent.
Conditions good
Overall crop conditions have declined. Approximately 83 percent are rated good to excellent. Approximately 30 percent of canola fields are now in bloom.
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Forages doing poorly
Most fields are a week behind normal crop development. Despite subsoil moisture ratings of 42 percent poor, 77 percent of crops are rated good and 16 percent are excellent, the highest of any region in the province.
Forage crops are not faring as well. Approximately 42 percent of hay crops are poor to fair.
Hay crops good
Subsoil moisture is 84 percent good to excellent. Pastures and hay crops are flourishing, with 85 percent good to excellent. Overall crop ratings have declined since the middle of June.
Rain needed
Crop development is normal for this time of year. Rain is needed as 49 percent of subsoil moisture is poor and 43 percent is fair. Crop ratings have dropped in the last two weeks because of dry conditions. Approximately 36 of canola fields are poor to fair. Nearly 26 percent of cereals are poor to fair.
Delayed development
Approximately 70 percent of cereal crops are behind normal development, 61 percent of oilseeds are behind and 62 percent of pulse crops are also behind for this time of year.
A week of sun and heat in late June helped crops suffering due to excess moisture.
Pasture conditions are 68 percent excellent and 30 percent good.
Varied conditions
Crop condition varies from extremely poor to good, depending on moisture received.
Approximately 43 percent of the canola crop is rated good, 27 percent fair and 21 percent poor.
Spring wheat is 38 percent good, 30 percent fair and 18 percent poor.
Pests, disease reported
Pea crops are beginning to flower and canola is starting to bolt. Spraying is underway but herbicide application has been challenging in wet fields.
Cutworms, flea beetles and leaf diseases have appeared, but flooding has caused the majority of crop damage in the region.
Moisture stress
Excessive moisture continues to hinder crop progress. Only 12 percent of spring cereals and 14 percent of oilseeds are at normal development.
Pulse crops are doing slightly better, with 35 percent of the crop at normal development for this period.
About 54 percent of the pea crop is rated as good, while 53 percent of lentils are good.
Canola good
Spring wheat and canola are doing well compared to other regions, with 76 percent of wheat and 74 percent of canola rated as good.
Hay and pasture conditions are very good, with 59 percent of pastures in excellent condition.
Flood damage
With 200 to 400 mm of rain so far this year, there is extensive flooding damage to crops in the area. Pastures have also suffered.
Haying will be delayed until fields dry out.
