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Unfinished Business

Alberta farmers still finishing “harvest from hell” with new season underway

May 11, 2020 | 1:55 PM

Before Alberta farmers can get going with the 2020 growing season they first need to finish up with what’s been described by some as the “harvest from hell.”

As of the last Alberta Crop Report (Dec. 3, 2019) from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), 10 per cent of Alberta crop acres were left unharvested. The South region has mostly wrapped up the 2019 harvest, but as you move north in the province, the amount of overwintered crop still out there increases, with the Northwest Peace areas furthest behind.

The quality of the overwintered production is said to be quite good, according to the May 5 Alberta Crop Report. Provincially, close to 70 per cent of the spring harvested cereal grains (spring wheat, barley, oats) are coming off as good quality feed. The spring harvested canola is also felt to be good quality, with 84 per cent coming off as ‘3 Canada’ or better.

Provincially, seeding is slightly behind schedule with nine per cent of the 2020 crop planted.

In the Central region, seeding progress is currently at four per cent complete for all crops, with negligible acres emerged at this early date.

Producers in the South have planted 28 per cent of their crop while, as expected, planting is just starting in northeast, northwest and Peace areas.

Fall-seeded crops in Alberta are up and looking good with ratings of 75 per cent good or excellent. In the Central region, fall-seeded crops are doing well with an estimated 71 per cent rated good. Surface soil moisture is rated at 85 per cent good or better, while both spring hay and pasture growth is currently 61 per cent good or excellent.

As of December, approximately seven per cent of all acres were left unharvested in the Central region, including 10 per cent canola, 12 per cent barley and 19 per cent spring wheat. The majority of mixed grain and oat acres were said to be put to another use, such as baling.

In spite of the cooler spring temperatures, a provincial outlook on tame hay and pasture growth is coming in close to average this year. Officials say tame hay growth is currently 48 per cent good or excellent as compared to the five-year average of 52 per cent.

Pasture growth is 57 per cent good or excellent compared to the historical average of 53 per cent. Forage reserve feedback indicates that approximately 90 per cent of producers have adequate forage to get them through the next few weeks until grazing begins.

Observers estimate 76 per cent of the province as having good or excellent surface soil moisture. Excessive moisture is a major issue across much of the northwest area of the province, as well as parts of the Peace area which experienced the bulk of the wet conditions last fall.

AFSC officials say a significant period of dry, warm weather is needed to allow soils to dry sufficiently to support the weight of harvesting and seeding equipment.

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