Rain delayed the Alberta harvest this past week, although producers still made better progress than their counterparts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan.
Friday’s Alberta crop report pegged the harvest of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, peas, and canola) at 74% complete as of Tuesday, up 11 points on the week. The harvest of all crops in the province was estimated at 75% done, up 20 points from two weeks earlier and ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 62% and 54%.
In comparison, the Manitoba harvest was estimated at 58% complete as of Tuesday, up only 3 points from a week earlier, while the Saskatchewan harvest advanced 5 points to 79% done as of Monday.
Producers in Alberta’s North West and Peace regions made the most harvest progress this past week, with fieldwork slower in the South, Central, and North East regions.
The South Region continues to lead in overall harvest progress at 86% complete, followed by the Central at 83%. The North West and Peace regions were 68% and 67% complete as Tuesday, while the North East was 59% done.
The Alberta durum crop was 93% in the bin as of Tuesday, with spring wheat and barley at 87%, oats at 69%, and canola at 49%. The pea harvest is virtually now complete, while lentils and chickpeas were 95% and 81% harvested. Flax was 37% harvested.
Provincial crop quality updates for this week continue to indicate that a smaller proportion than average of the harvested crop is expected to be graded as the highest quality.
Meanwhile, most dryland yield estimates for major crops have declined slightly since last reported two weeks ago, the report said. The average spring wheat yield is now pegged at 45.4 bu/acre, barley at 57.5 bu, oats at 68.7 bu, canola at 31.9 bu, and peas at 36 bu.
Those estimates are mostly well below the model-based estimates released by Statistics Canada on Sept. 16. That report put the average Alberta spring wheat yield at 52 bu/acre, barley at 60.4 bu, oats at 75.7 bu, and canola at 38.3 bu. StatsCan’s pea yield estimate was exactly on par with the Alberta projection at 36 bu.
The widespread precipitation across the province improved surface soil moisture conditions. Provincial surface soil moisture was rated 50% good to excellent as of Tuesday, an increase of 3 points over last week. That compares to the 5-year average of 49% and a 10-year average of 56%.
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.
