Photo courtesy Erika Rolling

By Erika Rolling

Agriculture

Rainfall helps sub-surface soil moisture and crop growth across province

Jun 23, 2025 | 12:10 PM

In the latest Alberta Crop Report dated June 17, precipitation over the North East and Central regions of the province has provided some relief to ongoing dry conditions.

Provincial crop conditions are rated as 50 per cent good to excellent, below the 5 and 10 year averages of 71 and 70 per cent respectively.

The report did indicate that precipitation that was forecasted was expected to improve conditions across the board in the coming weeks and that this will be reflected in the next report that comes out on June 27.

Major crops are all rated below their historical averages.

In the Peace Region, percentages for good to excellent crop conditions are severely lacking when compared to provincial averages:

• 25.6 per cent Spring Wheat vs. 50.7 per cent provincially
• 34 per cent Barley vs. 51 per cent provincially
• 29.7 per cent Oats vs. 50.8 per cent provincially
• 23.9 per cent Canola vs. 44.7 per cent provincially
• 30.8 per cent Dry Peas vs. 51.7 per cent provincially

Sub-surface soil moisture conditions have improved thanks to rainfall. In the Peace, the ratings are 9.8 per cent poor, 44.6 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, 5.7 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive. The rest of the province is behind the Peace Region’s rating as of this report.

Tame hay conditions in the Peace are being reported as:

• 22 per cent poor
• 52 per cent fair
• 25 per cent good
• 5 per cent excellent
• 0 per cent excessive

Pest pressures have also been very minimal for the Peace, with only one per cent of flea beetles reported above the threshold, and no other significant insect or grasshopper concerns indicated.