A week of favourable weather has advanced seeding to 91 per cent completed, up 12 percentage points for the week but well behind the five year average of 99.5 per cent. Seeding intentions are changing due to the late date as producers shift acres to barley away from spring wheat, canola and field peas. Crop emergence demonstrates the lateness of the year with only 66 per cent of crops emerged versus last year at 91 per cent. Emergence varies from 96 per cent in the South region to 33 per cent in the Peace.
The harvest of over-wintered crops is estimated at 97 per cent completed, leaving approximately 35-50,000 acres yet to be handled. Harvest is virtually complete in the Central region, 95-96 per cent complete in the North East and North West and 98 per cent done in the Peace. It is estimated that 35 per cent of the spring threshed cereals to be of good feed quality, 45 per cent have marginal feed quality and the remaining 20 per cent having little or no feed value. Sixty-three per cent of the canola is grading 3 CAN or better with 31 per cent grading sample due to damage.
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Surface soil moisture ratings improved marginally on the week. Excessive moisture ratings continue to decline in all regions and now stand at 13.5 per cent of the province. The poor/fair rating was unchanged at nine per cent while the good/excellent rating rose one percentage point to 77 per cent.
Hay/pasture ratings were little changed on the week at one per cent poor; nine per cent fair; 69 per cent good; 21 per cent excellent.
