Over 90% of the Alberta crop is now in the bin, as producers were still able to make progress in the fields this past week despite scattered showers in parts of the province.
Friday’s crop report showed the harvest of all Alberta crops at 92% done as of Tuesday, up 7 points from a week earlier and comfortably ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 85% and 77%, respectively.
The harvest in the South Region reached 97% complete as of Tuesday, followed by the Central at 96%, the North West at 89%, and the North East at 87%. The Peace Region has the most combining still to do, with 84% of the crop off.
Provincially, the durum, winter wheat, fall rye, dry pea, lentil, chickpea, and mustard harvest was virtually complete. The barley harvest was 96% done, with oats at 87%, canola at 83% and flax at 63%. The majority of the remaining canola crop has been swathed, the report noted.
Compared to the previous week, which saw scattered showers across most the province, this past week’s light rains focused on the edge of the North West Region and the Peace Region. Still, very few areas in those regions received more than 10 mm. Most of the North East, Central and South Region received less than 1 mm of rain.
Provincewide surface soil moisture was rated 54% good to excellent as of Tuesday, better than the five-year average of 45% but below the 10-year average of 57%.
After slowly declining since the first estimate in the beginning of August, the five-year dryland yield index for major crops gained 1 point from the last report and is currently at 98, or 2% below the five-year average.
The South Region has the highest yield index at almost 22% above the regional five-year average. Crops in the North West and Peace regions are expected to yield 4% and 2% above average, respectively. On the other hand, Central yields are expected 19% below average and North East yields 11% below.
For the major crops, the highest yield estimates for spring wheat (53.2 bu/ac), barley (69.1 bu/ac), oats (80.6 bu/ac) and canola (37.2 bu/ac) are all found in the North West Region. The highest dry pea yield (38.3 bu/ac) is found in the Peace Region.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• In the South Region, rain showers slowed the harvest earlier in the week, but warm weather followed which allowed progress to advance by 7 per cent since last week. Total harvest of major crops is at 87 per cent.
• The 5-year yield index indicates that yields are 119.0 per cent of their 5-year average across the South Region.
• Estimates indicate that approximately 76 per cent of hard red spring wheat, 65 per cent of durum wheat, and 67 per cent of oats are grading in the top two grades. Around 27 per cent of barley qualifies for Malt, while 36 per cent is grading as 1 C.W. For canola, 58 per cent is achieving a 1 Can., with 31 per cent grading as 2 Can.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Light showers around the Central Region have delayed some combining, but progress of 10 per cent was seen over the week and the region is now 83 per cent complete harvest for major crops.
• The crop yield index estimates crop yields are averaging 81.4 per cent of the 5-year average.
• Nearly 90 per cent of hard red spring wheat, 100 per cent of durum wheat, and 58 per cent of oats are estimated to grade within the top two categories. For barley, 41 per cent is eligible for Malt and 36 per cent is grading as 1 C.W. Canola shows promising results, with 88 per cent grading as 1 Can., and 7 per cent as 2 Can.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Harvest progressed 9 per cent in the North East Region, despite some wet conditions over the week, and is now 60 per cent complete. Dry pea harvest is complete, and spring cereals are making significant progress. Canola is 33 per cent combined and 38 per cent in the swath. More dry and warm weather will be conducive to these swaths drying.
• The crop yield index estimates that yields in the North East Region are 87.9 per cent of their 5-year average.
• Estimates indicate that 94 per cent of hard red spring wheat and 74 per cent of oats will grade in the top two grades. For barley, around 23 per cent is expected to grade as Malt, and 63 per cent as 1 C.W. Canola demonstrates strong quality, with 91 per cent expected to grade as 1 Can. and 5 per cent as 2 Can.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• In the North West Region, light to moderate showers delayed the harvest this week. Despite the delay, the harvest progressed by 18 per cent and is now 68 per cent complete for major crops. Spring wheat and barley are 83 and 84 per cent combined, respectively, while 45 per cent of canola is combined. Harvest of dry peas is complete in the North West.
• The 5-year yield index indicates that yields are 102.8 per cent of the 5-year average across the region.
• Estimates suggest that 74 per cent of hard red spring wheat and 67 per cent of oats are grading in the top two grades. For barley, 14 per cent is eligible for Malt, and 54 per cent is classified as 1 C.W. Canola quality stands at 75 per cent rated as 1 Can. and 9 per cent as 2 Can.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Despite precipitation causing harvest delays in the Peace Region over the past week, the harvest has progressed by 17 per cent, reaching 67 per cent completion in the region. Dry peas are leading the harvest, with 99 per cent combined, followed by spring wheat at 80 per cent. Canola is 51 percent combined, with 33 percent still in the swath.
• The crop yield index estimates that yields in the Peace Region are 102.3 per cent of their 5-year average.
• Estimates indicate that about 81 per cent of hard red spring wheat and 88 per cent of oats are grading in the top two grades. Only 2 per cent of barley qualifies for Malt, while 74 per cent is grading as 1 C.W. For canola, 56 per cent is achieving a 1 Can. grade, with 25 per cent grading as 2 Can.
