Alberta crop conditions edged lower in early August as dry fields in the south and central regions contrasted with excess moisture farther north.

The province rated 58 per cent of major crops in good or excellent condition as of Aug. 4, down from 60 per cent one week earlier. The latest rating remained above the five-year average of 43 per cent and the 10-year average of 54 per cent.

Central Alberta had 69 per cent of major crops rated good or excellent, second only to the south at 77 per cent. The rating was 47 per cent in the northeast, 38 per cent in the northwest and 48 per cent in the Peace region.

The regional figures show that the provincial average does not describe conditions on every farm. Some southern and central producers continued to deal with limited surface moisture, while parts of northern Alberta had fields affected by too much water.

Across Alberta, 46 per cent of agricultural land had good or excellent surface soil moisture. In the south, 39 per cent was rated poor and 35 per cent fair. Central Alberta had 19 per cent rated poor and 39 per cent fair.

Excess surface moisture was reported on 21 per cent of land in the northeast and 38 per cent in the northwest. The Peace region had five per cent rated as having excess surface moisture.

Spring wheat and barley held the strongest ratings among the major crops. Spring wheat was 64 per cent good or excellent, followed by barley and dry peas at 63 per cent each. Canola was rated 50 per cent good or excellent and oats 49 per cent.

Crop development was behind normal in several areas, adding time pressure as producers move closer to harvest. The effect will depend on crop stage, local rainfall and temperatures through the rest of August.

Pasture ratings also weakened in parts of the province. Good or excellent pasture fell by 11 percentage points in the south and 13 points in central Alberta from the previous week, leaving those regions at 45 per cent and 55 per cent respectively.

The next provincial report will show whether recent rainfall improved dry areas without adding more stress to saturated fields. For east-central producers, local totals and field conditions will remain more useful than the provincewide average when judging yield potential and harvest timing.