Seeding in Alberta nearly complete, with strong emergence

Spring planting in Alberta was virtually complete according to the province’s latest crop report. As of June 11, seeding in Alberta was a smidge under 100 per cent complete provincewide and on par with the five-year average.

The Peace River Region ranked 100 per cent complete for its major crops, while the south, central, northeast and northwest regions were more than 99 per cent done but short of 100 per cent.

In terms of crops, Alberta’s spring wheat and dry peas rated 100 per cent finished, with the canola just short of being complete. The province’s barley and oats were between 98 to 99 per cent seeded.

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Crop emergence was pegged at 86 per cent and virtually on par with the province’s five-year average. Dry peas led the way at more than 96 per cent emerged, followed by spring wheat at 93 per cent, barley at 86 per cent, with canola at 78 per cent and oats at 76 per cent.

By region, the crops in central Alberta ranked 92 per cent emerged, with the northwest at 88 per cent, the south at 85 per cent, and the northeast and Peace River at 83 per cent.

Surface soil moisture levels were 66 per cent good to excellent, besting the five-year average of 59 per cent. The northeast had the most moisture at 89 per cent good to excellent, followed by the northwest at 80 per cent and Peace River at 79 per cent. At 61 per cent good to excellent was central Alberta and the south came in at 48 per cent. As well, the south had the highest fair to poor rating at 52 per cent.

As for pasture growth conditions, the northwest was rated at 80 per cent good to excellent and the northwest was at 77 per cent. The central region came in at 73 per cent, the south at 62 per cent and Peace River with 54 per cent.