Seeding in areas south of Calgary is nearly halfway complete in early May, according to the first edition of the Alberta Crop Report, released on May 9.--News Photo Collin Gallant
@MedicineHatNews
Seeding in southern Alberta is halfway complete according to the first Alberta crop report of the year, well ahead of long-term average progress at May 6.
Typically, 34.8 per cent of acres are seeded at this point of the year in areas south of Calgary, but the current level is 49.7 per cent, including most major crops, according to Alberta Agriculture.
The trend extended across the province, with most regions seeing at least twice the typical progress of getting crops in the ground.
In the south, dry peas (76 per cent) and durum wheat (64.4 per cent) led the way, with barley and spring wheat also at the halfway mark. Canola (24 per cent) and oats (32 per cent) trailed, while specialty crops like potatoes (88per cent) were nearing completion.
Pasture conditions are also slightly higher than in years past. In the south, 91 per cent of tame hay and pasture land is rated fair to good – the same as ratings for subsoil moisture in Region One comprising Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Foremost and Strathmore.
Precipitation in the Medicine Hat region has been near normal or moderately low.
In southwest Saskatchewan, seeding sat at 43 per cent across the region, according to that province’s crop report, with progress higher south of Maple Creek.
Moisture is considered to be mainly adequate, but half of local crop reports stated that runoff was not sufficient to refill dugout.
