Over the past couple of weeks was a welcome site in many areas of the province.

Crop Statistican Ashan Shooshtarian says rain  was definitely welcome  particularly for hay and pasture fields, however, it might be too late for most annual crops.

"Temperatures over this period remained in the mid to high 20s across all regions. Overall, precipitation accumulations tended to be highly variable throughout most parts of the province.  Crops still look weak in many areas, with small head sizes and unfilled kernels. Provincial crop condition ratings declined slightly from the previous crop report. Currently, 18 per cent of crops in Alberta are in good or excellent condition, compared to the 5-year average of 69 per cent. Compared to the previous crop report, growing condition ratings dropped for all regions, with the North West Region deteriorating the most, where ratings dropped by three per cent, followed by the Peace and Central Regions, where ratings went down by two per cent. Conditions deteriorated marginally in the South and North East Regions."

Spring seeded cereals across the province are mostly in the dough stage, while all dry peas, 97 per cent of canola and more than 95 per cent of lentils and chickpeas are in the podding stage.

Shooshtarian says harvest is advanced in all regions and operations have begun for fall-seeded crops, pulses and some early-seeded spring cereals.

"Provincially, 62 per cent of fall rye, 44 per cent of winter wheat, 32 per cent of lentils, 19 per cent of dry peas and 14 per cent of both durum wheat and triticale are now in the bin, accounting for about four per cent of all crops. About one per cent of crops across the province have been swathed and 95 per cent is still standing."

Pasture growing conditions across Alberta remains poor.

She says some pastures are so “burnt” and dried out from the earlier hot and dry conditions in the year that recent precipitation was not enough to benefit them.

"Rainfall before the fall is needed to ensure average growth next year. In response to feed shortage as a result of hot dry conditions, producers are taking cereals and pulses for silage, greenfeed or pasturing them."

Currently, pasture conditions across the province are now reported as 52 per cent poor, 30 per cent fair, 17 per cent good and 1 per cent excellent.

Provincial tame hay growing conditions are rated as 51 per cent poor, 32 per cent fair, 16 per cent good and 1 per cent excellent.

The Alberta Crop Report is available here.