More than half of all Alberta crops are now in the bin.
The latest weekly crop report on Friday pegged the overall harvest at 55% complete as of Tuesday, up from about 20% two weeks earlier. Continued hot, dry weather has allowed for rapid progress in the fields, with the harvest running well ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 32% and 28%, respectively.
Combining is the most advanced in the South Region, where 72% of the crop was off as of Tuesday. The Central Region followed at 66% done, with the North East and North West each at 42%. The Peace Region harvest was 37% complete. Harvest progress in all regions also remains well ahead of the respective five-year average pace.
Specific provincial crop progress is furthest ahead for dry peas, which were 97% combined and mostly complete in all regions except for the Peace, followed by lentils at 88%, durum at 72% and barley at 71% combined. The oat harvest was 42% complete, with an estimated 21% of the canola off. Chickpeas and mustard were 67% and 62% harvested as of Tuesday and flax at 19%.
The first crop quality estimates of the harvest season have been reported and major crops are rating lower than their five-year average, the report said. Bushel weights are lighter than average due to spring moisture that encouraged tillering and then heat stress and drought stress when crops were filling. Also, hail that occurred around the province has affected grade along with expected yields. The effects will be difficult to determine until harvest is completed, the report added.
So far, 52% of Hard Red Spring wheat is estimated at No. 1 C.W., compared to the five-year average of 63%, while 41% of the durum is rated No. 1, below the average of 60%.
For barley, 25% is rating malt quality (compared to 32% on average) whereas 49% is rating No. 1 versus 57% on average. Just over one-third of the oats (34%) are estimated to be No. 1, down from the average of 46%.
Provincial canola is estimated to be 73% No. 1 Can. compared to the average 85%, with 18% of peas at No. 1, below the average of 30%.
The five-year dryland yield index for major crops is stable since it was last reported at 99.1% two weeks earlier. Yields in the North West and Peace regions are expected to be close to their five-year averages. Central Region crops are estimated to yield 13% below the average, and the North East 12% below. On the other hand, South Region crops are expected to yield 22% above the average.
Precipitation over the last week was limited for most of the province. A strip of the Central Region received showers ranging from 1 mm to 20 mm. The Peace Region received between 1 mm and 40 mm, with the majority of those showers being in the north half of the region. The west edge of the North West Region also received a few mm.
Surface soil moisture across the province was rated about 30% good to excellent as of Tuesday, well down from the five-year average of 49%, and the 10-year average of 54%.
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
• Harvest is progressing quickly around the region with many warm days. Currently, major crop combining is 74 per cent complete, ahead of the 5-year average of 57 per cent. Due to variability in maturing caused by late seeding and differing conditions, some fields are getting swathed instead of straight cut.
• Hot afternoons and cool evenings have led to some showers around the region but nothing that significantly impacted moisture. Showers in the upcoming forecast will be beneficial for fall seeded crops. Sub-surface soil moisture (5-year average) is rated as 34 (44) per cent poor, 47 (38) per cent fair, 20 (18) per cent good, 0 (1) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
• Major crop harvest is 65 per cent complete in the Central Region ahead of the 5-year average of 29 per cent.
• Reports indicate presence of flea beetles, grasshoppers, hessian flies and sawfly in different parts of the region.
• Some parts of the region report that recent rains have rejuvenated pastures and boosted hay but other areas continued to turn cows out onto fields due to feed concerns and low harvest value.
• Central Region sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated (5-year average) as 47 (22) per cent poor, 37 (31) per cent fair, 16 (43) per cent good, 0 (5) per cent excellent, and 0 (0) per cent excessive.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
• Major crop harvest progress is at 42 per cent for major crops in the North East, ahead of the 5-year average of 15 per cent. Dry pea harvest is nearly complete and spring cereals are making significant progress. Canola is 14 per cent combined and 45 per cent in the swath. More dry and warm weather will be conducive to these swaths drying.
• Some second cut hay is being taken; however, producers have noted that it is thinner than expected due to the lack of moisture since first cut.
• Sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated (5-year average) as 27 (17) per cent poor, 57 (17) per cent fair, 17 (37) per cent good, 0 (28) per cent excellent, and 0 (1) per cent excessive.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
• Major crop combining is at 42 per cent complete in the North West, ahead of the 5-year average of 16 per cent. Spring wheat and barley are 53 and 56 per cent combined, respectively, while 50 per cent of canola is still in the swath. Dry peas harvest is complete in the North West.
• Second cut hay is well underway, but yields are low, and some farmers are not even cutting due to thin second growth.
• There was scattered moisture over the past week, but may areas remain in poor condition. Sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated (5-year average) as 38 (4) per cent poor, 44 (16) per cent fair, 17 (40) per cent good, 1 (32) per cent excellent, and 0 (9) per cent excessive.
Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
• Warm and dry weather has allowed harvest to progress quickly and is currently at 37 per cent complete in the Peace, ahead of the 5-year average of 15 per cent. Harvest progress is being led by dry peas at 87 per cent combined followed by spring wheat at 57 per cent combined. Canola is only 10 per cent combined but 54 per cent is currently in the swath.
• Sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated (5-year average) as 1 (18) per cent poor, 38 (24) per cent fair, 58 (42) per cent good, 3 (16) per cent excellent, and 0 (1) per cent excessive.
