 Warm temperatures, coupled with rain showers, have provided favourable crop growing conditions for the last two weeks in the province. The exception is the southern and central areas of the Peace Region, where precipitation received during the last two weeks ranged from trace to less than 15 mm, and moisture conditions continue to deteriorate. For the rest of the province, precipitation is mostly 5 - 45 mm in the Central Region, and 10-70 mm in the Southern, North East and North West Regions. Overall, soil moisture reserves in the province are adequate, with the exception of the Peace Region. Table one presents estimates of sub-surface moisture conditions for the province, by region. The recent favourable weather conditions have advanced crop development. In the Central Region, canola and dry peas are generally podding, while spring cereals are in the late milk to early dough stage. However, due to delayed seeding and cool temperatures earlier this spring, crop development remains 10 - 20 days behind normal in the Southern Region, and 7 - 10 days behind normal in the Central, North East and North West Regions. Also, hailstorms have caused crop damage in some areas. Provincially, nearly 70 per cent of spring cereals and 66 per cent of canola are in good to excellent condition (see Table 2).  About 80 per cent of winter cereals are rated as good to excellent, while specialty crops under irrigation, primarily in the Southern Region, range mostly from fair to good. Crop harvest has begun, mainly in the Southern Region for winter cereals/dry peas, and in the Peace Region for canola/dry peas. Crop yields are expected to be above average in the province, with the exception of the Peace Region, where yields are mostly below average. Haying Rain showers have delayed haying operations, resulting in some quality deterioration for hay in swath. The first cut is estimated at 85 per cent complete. Yields are below average in the Peace Region, but significantly above average in other areas of the province. Overall, hay quality varies, ranging from poor to excellent. As well, some producers have started the second cut. Due to the lack of moisture, 76 per cent of pasture in the Peace Region is still in poor condition. Provincially, pasture is rated as 16 per cent poor, 21 per cent fair, 46 per cent good, and 17 per cent excellent. The damp weather conditions this summer have contributed to crop diseases in many areas.Also, some areas have reported problems with gophers, lygus bugs, flea beetles, grasshoppers, root maggots, and diamond back larvae/moths, with pesticides being applied. Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen) • Rain showers during the last two weeks have delayed haying operations, resulting in some quality deterioration for hay in swath. Hay yields from the first cut, estimated at 73 per cent complete, are above average, while quality ranges from poor to good. Excessive moisture is still a concern in some areas. • About 75 per cent of spring cereals/canola, and 80 per cent of dry peas are in good to excellent condition. Yield prospects for major and specialty crops are significantly above average. Overall, crop development is mostly 7 - 10 days behind normal. Some producers have started making silage. There are localized hailstorms causing crop damage. Also, some areas have reported concerns with crop disease, and problems with gophers and other pests. • The adequate moisture reserves have boosted pasture growth, which are mostly in good to excellent condition. Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost) • Crops are generally in good to excellent condition, and yield potentials are significantly above average. Hailstorms have caused crop damage in some areas. Soil moisture reserves are adequate, and even excessive in some fields. Warm, dry weather is needed, as crop development remains 7-10 days behind normal. Also, some areas have reported concerns with crop diseases. • Rain showers have hampered haying operations, and caused some quality deterioration for hay in swath. The first cut is estimated at 77 per cent complete, with yields markedly above average, and quality ranging from poor to good. • Pasture condition is rated as two per cent poor, 18 per cent fair, 63 per cent good, and 17 per cent excellent. |
The Coronation Seed Cleaning Co-op Ltd, has invested in a new five-tray i-IQ-CC5 colour sorter for grain. The company supplying the new equipment is Delta Technologies from Houston, Texas.The i-IQ uses a high resolution multi-pixel scanning Array, a proven method with many advantages over traditional CCD cameras. This is done using real-time scanning, which immediately transforms lighting to voltage, eliminating time lag and improving accuracy. his intelligent sorter optimizes the geometry of light, which greatly improves sorting efficiency, especially in chalky grain detection. Delta’s advances in scanning and lighting technology, when combined with enhanced ejectors, have resulted in a marked decrease in the amount of good product in the reject stream. Using this methodology, the success rate has been determined to be at 99.90 per cent sorting accuracy. Three of the four seed cleaning plants in Central Alberta have purchased three tray sorters. Coronation Seed Cleaning Co-op Ltd. is the first to purchase a sorter of this quality. The five trays,” said Plant Manager, Glen Hartel, “will allow us to clean more bushels per hour, and to handle a larger volume of product.” The Co-op is hoping the new sorter will encourage producers as far away as Provost, stretching their boundaries on all sides. “We hope to have the new sorter installed the week of August 9,” said Hartel, “but we need to install the lines first, so the sorter will be installed after this work is completed.”
