The Alberta harvest is winding down, ahead of the five- and 10-year average pace.
Friday’s weekly crop report showed the harvest of major crops across the province (spring wheat, oats, barley, peas, and canola) at 96% complete as of Tuesday. That is up 5 points from a week earlier and compares to the five-year average of 90% and the 10-year average of 83%.
A week of dry weather in most areas around the province helped producers get in the field, even with cool temperatures that decreased combining hours during the day due to extended dew or frost, the report said.
The harvest has basically now wrapped up in the South and Central regions, with the North East at 93% done, up from 87% a week earlier, and the North West at 94% complete, versus 89% the previous week. The Peace harvest advanced 9 points on the week to reach 93% complete as of Tuesday.
The barley, dry pea, and spring wheat harvest is virtually complete, but canola and oats are only 92 and 93% combined, respectively. Harvest progress for both crops is still ahead of the five-year average.
The limited precipitation this past week was mostly in the North West and North East regions with some showers along the western edge of the Central Region. Some areas in the North East received up to 20 mm while the North West received up to 10 mm. The rest of the province received under 1 mm. Though conditions were suitable for harvesting, surface soil moisture conditions decreased around the province. Provincial surface soil moisture was rated 45% good to excellent as of Tuesday, down from 53% a week earlier but still on par with the five-year average.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Good weather all week helped harvest in the South progress another 2 per cent and is now virtually complete. The majority of remaining harvest is from canola and non-major crops.
• Frost was reported around the region as temperatures have cooled, resulting in less hours of the day suitable for combining. Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 15 (21) per cent poor, 47 (49) per cent fair, 36 (27) per cent good, 3 (3) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Estimates of feed and forage supplies seem to be adequate or surplus in most areas (73 and 18 per cent for forage and 74 and 15 per cent of the region for feed) and cattle are still out grazing fields.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Harvest progressed 3 per cent and is now estimated to be 99 per cent complete. There is still 3 per cent of total canola left to combine. If conditions are stable this week, harvest should soon be complete. Many farmers who are completed harvest are spraying or doing field work as heavy weed pressure and crop regrowth has been spotted in some fields due to later season moisture. Cold weather and killing frosts have helped manage this.
• Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 17 (42) per cent poor, 28 (41) per cent fair, 53 (15) per cent good, 2 (2) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Forage reserves are estimated to be adequate for 85 per cent of the region and surplus for 4 per cent. Feed grain reserves are estimated to be adequate for 84 per cent of the region and surplus for 4 per cent. Some producers are reported to be abandoning their second cut hay. However, some parts of the region still indicated that farmers will be able to build up their reserve stocks with their surplus feed.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Harvest was delayed with moisture in the north eastern parts of the region this week as canola and some oats are having difficulties drying down. Reports of cereals being harvested tough and sprouting in swaths have been made. Harvest is estimated to be 93 per cent complete, progressing 7 per cent since last week.
• Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 12 (28) per cent poor, 61 (51) per cent fair, 27 (21) per cent good, 0 (0) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive. Showers on the western side of the region delayed some progress.
• Forage reserves in the North East Region are estimated to be 75 per cent adequate and 9 per cent surplus. Feed grain reserves are estimated to be 71 per cent adequate and 9 per cent surplus.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Harvest in the North West Region progressed 5 per cent and is now estimated to be 94 per cent complete. There is still 10 per cent of the region’s canola left to harvest as well as some late maturing spring cereals.
• Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 21 (26) per cent poor, 48 (45) per cent fair, 25 (23) per cent good, 6 (6) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Forage reserves are estimated to be 85 per cent adequate and 7 per cent surplus. Feed grain reserves are estimated to be 68 per cent adequate and 10 per cent surplus.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• The Peace Region is estimated to be 93 per cent combined, advancing 8 per cent since last week. Canola harvest is 87 per cent complete and oats are 90 per cent complete. These two crops have the most left to harvest.
• There were a few showers around the south eastern part of the region, but they did not interfere with harvest. Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 0 (0) per cent poor, 14 (12) per cent fair, 80 (85) per cent good, 6 (3) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
• Forage reserves are estimated to be 74 per cent adequate and 8 per cent surplus while feed grain reserves are estimated to be 76 percent adequate and 4 per cent surplus.
