Bales appear at this irrigated parcel near the Medicine Hat city limits on Friday. The latest Alberta crop report states more moisture is needed to prevent yields and grading to deteriorate this growing season.--News Photo Collin Gallant
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Haying across southern Alberta this month is a little better than the first cut in 2021, according to the latest Alberta crop report, noting that a dry spring stunted growth, and rain since hasn’t fully made up the difference.
Progress at this point in both years is behind the five-year average, and yields are predicted at 1 and 2.2 tonnes per acre on dry and irrigated land, respectively.
Crop progression is slightly behind normal with most cereals emerging and more than 80 per cent of canola and peas in the podding stage in the Lethbridge, Foremost, Medicine Hat and Strathmore areas. In the south, 80 per cent of pasture is considered fair to good.
Conditions in Oyen and Central Alberta are better considering broader rain this month.
The Alberta-wide average yield for hay is expected to be 1.6 tonnes on dry acres (above the five-year average) and 2.2 tonnes on irrigated (below).
In southwest Saskatchewan, dry conditions continue to affect crop, hay and pasture conditions despite some areas receiving “timely rain” in late June. Without more moisture, resumed heat and wind will likely affect yields.
Currently across the region, 75 to 80 per cent of fall and spring cereals, oilseed and pulse crop are considered in fair to good condition.
Topsoil conditions for about half crop and pasture land is only considered to be adequate.
