While wet and cool conditions have held seeding progress back further north in Alberta, southern areas are experiencing drier conditions pushing them ahead of the five-year regional average, the May 3 provincial crop report says. This is the first crop report of the 2022-23 growing season.
Seeding is well on its way and ahead of the five-year regional average with dry soil, moderate winds, and little-to-no remaining spring runoff in the southern region, the report notes. Cereals and pulses are generally making significant seeding progress, with canola and flax trailing substantially and much slower than this time last year.
“Drought worries continue to dominate the conversation,” the report says. “Dry, windy conditions are also raising some soil erosion commentary amongst crop reporters. Irrigation is now being applied and generally earlier than normal.”
Moving further north throughout the province wet, cold conditions have plagued regions pushing seeding progress back. In the central area seeding is substantially slower than last year, largely due to cooler weather and modest, localized moisture in April. In the North East cold weather and lingering melting snow means seeding has barely started
“Snow banks and treelines are still melting. A cold April has delayed snowmelt and the ground is still too cold and soft for any seeding to take place.”
In the north west there’s virtually no seeding yet as spring rains and remaining snow cover keep farmers off fields, the report says. In the Peace region there’s next to zero seeding and very little spring field work has taken place as many fields are still melting and reporting runoff.
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