After weeks of dry weather, Alberta received some much needed rain which improved surface soil moisture conditions, the June 20 provincial crop report said. Hot, dry conditions had been weighing on crops.
“Precipitation ranging from (zero) to more than 175 mm across the province has substantially improved surface soil moisture conditions in most regions,” the report said.
The report noted surface soil moisture were previously rated good to excellent in the north west and central regions at 17 and 19 per cent, respectively. Following localized showers in these regions, conditions increased by 68 and 27 per cent. In the north east region, a big jump was noted with rating rising 57 per cent. The report cautioned that some areas in the central and north west reported excessive moisture with standing water in some fields.
“Previous very dry areas across the northern peace region along with parts of the southern region and eastern portions of the central region received little or no rain and remain in need of moisture,” the report said.
Crop conditions improved by nine per cent provincially since June 13 and are at 50 per cent good to excellent now. Crop conditions improved in all regions, with substantial gains reported for the central and north west regions. However, crop conditions are still 25 to42 per cent below the five-year average in the south, central, north east and north west and 2 per cent below the five-year average in the Peace region.
“Following the recent precipitation, warm weather is needed to advance crops. Major cereals are currently, on average, at their (sixth) node of stem elongation slightly ahead of the (five) and 10-year averages,” the report noted.
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