Spotty rains keeping soil moisture high for Peace Region

Aug 10, 2026 | 12:47 PM

Surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings are staying well above the five-and 10-year averages in the Peace Region thanks to recent rains and cooler conditions.

In the latest Alberta Crop Report, major crop good-to-excellent ratings in the Peace declined only one point, to 48 percent, compared with the prior report, above the five-year benchmark of 36.5 per cent.

Crop conditions rated good to excellent in the rest of Alberta are at 58.1 per cent.

A breakdown of each major crop’s good-to-excellent rating in our region is as follows:

Spring Wheat – 51.6 per cent
Barley – 50.8 per cent
Oats – 47.8 per cent
Canola – 45.4 per cent
Dry Peas – 46.2 per cent

The Peace is suffering a bit from excessive moisture, with sub-surface soil moisture’s good-to-excellent rating falling one point from the report prior to 89 per cent.

Surface soil moisture is sitting at 1.6 per cent poor, 19 per cent fair, 46.1 per cent good, 28.5 per cent excellent, and 4.8 per cent excessive in the Peace.

Pasture growth conditions were unchanged at 49 per cent good-to-excellent. Tame hay growth conditions are reported as 11 per cent poor, 35 per cent fair, 45 per cent good, and 10 per cent excellent.

by Erika Rolling