Alberta crop conditions are fluctuating

Courtesy Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
The continuation of moderate temperatures combined with wide spread shower activity throughout the province have placed crops under less stress and crop condition ratings have stabilized at 30 per cent rated good or excellent.
The precipitation received this week has provided modest improvements to soil moisture ratings. Surface moisture ratings increased two points to 32 per cent rated good or excellent and sub soil ratings improved four percentage points to 29 per cent rated good or excellent. Most crops have completed their reproductive stage with only a small amount of late-seeded crop remaining. Precipitation from this point onward will have minimal effect on yield potential, but would continue to be beneficial in kernel filling and seed test weight which would affect grade and ultimately price to the producer.
The first yield estimates of the season have been published.
These estimates are provided based upon extremely limited information at this time and will be updated bi-weekly.
Current provincial estimates are approximately 25-30 per cent below the average of the past five years though it should be noted two of those years (2013 and 2014) produced the highest average yields ever reported for the province.
Hay and pastures continue to green up with the moisture and growth has restarted. First cut dryland haying is 90 per cent complete with poor yields and so-so quality as only 65 per cent of the crop is rated as good or excellent. Second cut irrigated haying is 20 per cent completed with average yields and very good quality. Hay/pasture ratings have improved slightly this week to 44 per cent poor (-4), 38 per cent fair (no change), 18 per cent good (+4), one per cent excellent (no change).
The 2015 Alberta Crop Report Series Regional Assessments —Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Foremost)
Spring cereals entering early dough stage; winter cereals ripening; canola 85 per cent podding; field peas podded.
Harvest is starting on winter cereals, field peas, lentils and barley in a few areas.
First cut haying complete for dryland and 20 per cent of irrigated second cut has been harvested. Small amount of dryland second cut hay expected to be harvested if weather co-operates.
Initial crop yield estimates 15-25 per cent below five-year averages and five to 10 per cent below last difficult year of 2009.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
Spring cereals have completed pollination and entering milk stage; winter cereals in soft dough; canola 74 per cent podding; field peas are podded.
Rain combined with hail in west and central areas benefitted head filling and hay/pasture recovery. Crops continue to deteriorate in the east portion with spotty showers only.
Eighty two per cent of first cut dryland haying completed; yields poor; only 60 per cent of crop rated good or excellent for quality. 35 per cent of the region anticipating the ability to get a second hay cut.
Initial crop yield estimates 20-25 per cent below five-year averages but 15- 30 per cent above 2009.