Two thirds of SE Alberta’s farm acres are seeded, recent crop report tells
By Medicine Hat News on May 18, 2019.
Two-thirds of farm acres in southeast Alberta are seeded as of May 14, with expected moisture likely to bolster conditions for now emerging crops, according to the provincial report released on Friday. Planting in the Medicine Hat, Lethbridge and Foremost regions, at 67 per cent complete, is three times more advanced than last year and ahead of the long-term average for early May. The fast start is more pronounced across the province, where seeding is 42 per cent complete after a quick ramp-up last week, officials say. The same figure last year was just 7 per cent. In southern Alberta, all land for major crops is more than half completed, including canola, while peas are nearly finished and 28 per cent emerging. Subsurface moisture in the region is considered 41 per cent good and 20 per cent poor. Seeding in southwest Saskatchewan also passed the halfway post this week with areas north of Swift Current leading the way. Across that region, moisture is considered about 50 per cent adequate and about 40 per cent short for both crop and pastures. Producers as well as ranchers would welcome more moisture to start off crops and refill dugouts. 8-7
