Rain and cooler evening temperatures slowed progress, but the Alberta harvest still managed to make decent gains this past week.
Friday’s weekly crop report showed the provincewide harvest of major crops (spring wheat, barley, oats, canola, and peas) at 85% complete as of Tuesday, up 11 points from a week earlier and ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 73% and 64%.
While recent precipitation continues to improve soil moisture levels, the potential impact on the quality of remaining standing cereal crops is a concern, the report said. “Producers across many regions are now hoping for a period of drier, more favourable conditions over the coming weeks to complete the harvest,” it added.
The harvest is near complete in the South and Central regions, where about 94% and 92% of the crops were off as of Tuesday, respectively. The North West harvest was pegged at 80% done, followed by the North East at 78% and the Peace at 75%. On a provincewide basis, spring wheat and barley were both 92% in the bin as of Tuesday. Oats were 78% harvested, while the canola harvest advanced a major 23 points from the previous week to reach 71% complete. The pea harvest is finished.
Provincial surface soil moisture was rated 50% good to excellent as of Tuesday, steady from a week earlier. That compares to the five- and 10-year averages of 45% and 57% good to excellent.
Fall-seeded crops across Alberta were rated 57% good to excellent as of Tuesday, on par with the five-year average and near the 10-year average of 61%.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Major crops are 94 per cent combined, advancing 7 per cent from last week and remaining ahead of the 5-year average of 92 per cent in the South Region.
• Harvest progress per cent by major crop is 94 for spring wheat, 98 for barley, 98 for oats, 85 for canola and 100 for dry peas.
• Ongoing scattered rain showers continue to recharge soil moisture. Sub-surface moisture ratings are 15 per cent poor, 37 per cent fair, 42 per cent good, 5 per cent excellent, and 1 per cent excessive.
• Fall-seated crop conditions are rated as 1 per cent poor, 23 per cent fair, 70 per cent good and 6 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Central Region harvest of major crops progressed 9 per cent over the last week to 92 per cent combined, which is ahead of the 5-year average of 71 per cent for this week.
• Specific major crop harvest progress per cent is 96 for spring wheat, 97 for barley, 93 for oats, 82 for canola, and 100 for dry peas.
• Lower rainfall this week in the region led to sub-surface moisture ratings of 40 per cent poor, 40 per cent fair, 15 per cent good, 4 per cent excellent, and 1 per cent excessive.
• Fall-seeded crop conditions are rated as 8 per cent poor, 24 per cent fair, 60 per cent good and 8 per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Total combined major crops in the North East Region are at 78 per cent, an advancement of 18 per cent over last week and ahead of the 5-year average of 69 per cent this week.
• Major crop harvest percentages are 90 for spring wheat, 80 for barley, 67 for oats, 64 for canola, and 100 for dry peas.
• Sub-surface moisture ratings are 22 per cent poor, 47 per cent fair, 31 per cent good, 0 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Fall-seeded crop conditions are rated as 15 per cent poor, 60 per cent fair, 25 per cent good and 0 per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Harvest progress of major crops in the North West Region advanced 12 per cent over the past week to 80 per cent combined, ahead of the 5-year average of 57 per cent combined.
• Specific major crop harvest progress per cent is 90 for spring wheat, 90 for barley, 81 for oats, 66 for canola, and 100 for dry peas.
• Scattered rain continues to recharge sub-surface moisture with ratings now 27 per cent poor, 50 per cent fair, 19 per cent good, 4 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
• Fall-seeded crop conditions are rated as 0 per cent poor, 66 per cent fair, 34 per cent good and 0 per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Variable conditions in the Peace Region have allowed harvest of major crops to progress 8 per cent since last week to 75 per cent complete, ahead of the 5-year average of 59 per cent.
• Harvest progress per cent by major crop is 86 for spring wheat, 83 for barley, 75 for oats, 62 for canola and 100 for dry peas.
• Sub-surface moisture ratings are 1 per cent poor, 31 per cent fair, 65 per cent good, 4 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.
