After another week of strong progress, Alberta's harvest has caught up to its longer-term average, although it remains behind the more recent five-year pace.
According to Friday's provincial crop report, the harvest of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, peas, and canola) advanced 18 percentage points to reach 78% complete as of Tuesday, marking the third consecutive week of gains between 17 and 21 points.
The harvest of all crops reached 80% complete, compared to the five-year average of 94% and the 10-year average of 80%.
Regionally, the South leads at 89% of major crops harvested, followed by Central at 86%, Northwest at 74%, Northeast at 71% and Peace at 62%. The Central and Northwest regions are now ahead of their respective 10-year averages.
By crop, dry peas are virtually finished at 99.6%, followed by barley at 91%, spring wheat at 89% and oats at 74%. Canola is 56% harvested, with another 23% swathed.
Meanwhile, Alberta's latest provincial yield estimates are mixed compared to Statistics Canada's September model-based estimates, with spring wheat and canola lower but barley, oats and peas higher.
The province currently estimates average spring wheat yields at 53.9 bu/acre (StatsCan 55.9), barley at 73.8 (71.6), oats at 78.4 (90.8), canola at 38.1 (41.2) and dry peas at 42.1 (42.2).
Overall, the provincial dryland yield index suggests major crops will yield 21% above the five-year average, with the South leading at 59% above normal. The Northwest is the only region expected to yield below average, at 10% under normal.
Crop quality is generally above average, although ergot has affected some spring wheat in northern regions. An estimated 63% of harvested spring wheat is grading No. 1 Canada Western, while 89% of canola is grading No. 1 Canada.
Meanwhile, surface soil moisture conditions remain favourable following a relatively dry week. Provincially, 70% of surface moisture is rated good to excellent, compared to the five-year average of 33% and the 10-year average of 51%.
The full Alberta crop report can be seen here:
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/9af5b54d-f334-46ca-a0b1-23e560edb353/resource/c5d71b53-fea2-469c-aefb-1cd2df32e801/download/agi-tedab-alberta-crop-report-2026-10-06.pdf
