The slow start for the 2026 Alberta harvest is continuing.
According to Friday's weekly crop report, 4% of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola, and peas) had been harvested as of Tuesday (Aug. 25), up just a single point from a week earlier. Meanwhile, the harvest of all crops in the province was less than 6% done as of Tuesday, well behind the five- and 10-year year averages of 15% and 12%.
The harvest of all crops is furthest advanced in the South at 16%, followed by the Central Region at 3%. The harvest of all crops was reported at less than 1% complete in all other regions of the province.
Provincially, winter wheat harvest was 86% complete, fall rye 79%, dry peas 28%, lentils 27%, barley 9%, durum 7% and spring wheat 4%. Canola harvest was just 0.1% complete.
The slow pace reflects delayed seeding, emergence, and crop development caused by persistent wet conditions, the report said. Warm weather helped crops mature in northern regions over the past week, although wildfire smoke limited the benefit in some areas. The North East and North West remain unusually wet and need additional warm, dry weather.
Crop conditions remain relatively strong despite the delays. Provincial major crops were rated 59% good to excellent, with regional ratings of 79% in the South, 71% Central, 47% North East, 38% North West and 49% Peace. The North West improved three points from the previous week.
Dryland yield expectations also remain favourable, with provincial major crop yields forecast 20% above the five-year average and 9% above the 10-year average. South Region yields are expected to be 60% above the five-year norm.
Surface soil moisture was rated 54% good to excellent provincially as of Tuesday. Conditions improved sharply in the North East and North West as warm, dry weather reduced excess moisture, while the South deteriorated. Good-to-excellent surface moisture stood at 38% in the South, 53% Central, 66% North East, 61% North West and 79% in the Peace.
The full crop report is available here:
https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/9af5b54d-f334-46ca-a0b1-23e560edb353/resource/6f25a288-6778-4b9c-8227-48d9a934481c/download/agi-tedab-alberta-crop-report-2026-08-25.pdf
