Crop Condition Assessment Program, April 11 to May 29, 2022

Released: 2022-06-09

Weekly data on the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index for the period from April 11 to May 29, 2022 are now available as part of Statistics Canada's Crop Condition Assessment Program (CCAP).

The CCAP provides information on crop and pasture conditions derived from satellite images for all agricultural regions of Canada. The CCAP database contains the mean value of the one-kilometre resolution and the 250-metre resolution satellite picture elements within each of the census agriculture regions, census divisions and census consolidated subdivisions of Canada with pasture or cropland activity.

The CCAP is a joint initiative between Statistics Canada, Agricultural and Agri-Food Canada, and Natural Resources Canada. The application will be updated on a weekly basis during the entire growing season.

Seeding progress and weather conditions

Seeding progress in Alberta, as of the fourth week of May, was approximately 95% complete compared with the five-year average of 94%. Saskatchewan progress was about 76% complete compared with the five-year average of 93%, while Manitoba lagged at around 40%, well behind the five-year average of 91%. Flooding in Manitoba compounded by localized rainfall greatly hampered seeding progress.

Map 1 
Flood map of the Red River Valley, Southern Manitoba, May 30 to June 2, 2022

According to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's agroclimate maps, excess precipitation throughout April and May was recorded in Manitoba, eastern Saskatchewan and the Alberta/British Columbia Peace River region, resulting in delayed seeding progress. Moisture deficits in southern Alberta caused delays in crop and pasture growth. Southern Ontario and parts of the Maritimes received below normal amounts of precipitation, while Quebec reported above normal precipitation.

Temperatures across Western Canada have been, in general, average to slightly below average, while Eastern Canada and the Maritimes received average to slightly above average temperatures.

Cool, wet conditions slow crop and pasture development in the eastern portion of the Prairies and in the Alberta-British Columbia Peace River region

Map 2 
Crop and pasture growth conditions as of May 29, 2022, compared with the normal (as observed from 1987 to 2021), by census division, Western Canada

Significant amounts of precipitation received in May throughout parts of Western Canada delayed seeding and crop development. Vegetative growth in Manitoba was much lower than normal (as observed from 1987 to 2021), while crop and pasture conditions in Saskatchewan and Alberta were similar to normal and lower depending on the region of comparison.

British Columbia's crop conditions were similar to normal (as observed from 1987 to 2021) except in the Peace River region, where they were lower than normal due to excess moisture and below normal temperatures.

Crop conditions throughout Quebec and Atlantic Canada are similar to and higher when compared with the normal (1987 to 2021)

Crop conditions based on satellite observations for Quebec and the Atlantic provinces were similar to normal and higher due to favourable soil moisture conditions.

Crop conditions were lower than normal for most of Ontario.

Map 3 
Crop and pasture growth conditions as of May 29, 2022, compared with the normal (as observed from 1987 to 2021), by census division, Central and Atlantic Canada

Products

The product Crop Condition Assessment Program, 2022 (Catalogue number22-205-X), is available.

Weekly satellite images from the start of the 2022 growing season have been processed and are now available on the Crop Condition Assessment Program website.

Contact information

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).