(File Photo)

By rdnewsNOW staff

Crop Conditions Update

Good weather helping local farmers complete harvest

Sep 25, 2020 | 5:23 PM

Warm weather throughout most of central Alberta this week has allowed for continued harvest progress throughout the region.

According to the latest crop conditions report from Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC), only Special Areas 2 and 3 reported any harvest delays due to rain.

Producers were said to be able to combine an additional 16 per cent of their major crops from a week ago. The dryland yield index remains unchanged at 119 per cent from the previously reported index in the September 8 crop report.

In addition, the index reflects the yield estimates for the major crops such as spring wheat, durum wheat, barley, and canola all remaining unchanged.

Crop quality is above the provincial five-year averages for malt barley and the top two grades of hard red spring wheat, durum wheat, oats, and dry peas. About 87 per cent of canola graded 1CAN; lower than the five-year average, while seven per cent graded 2CAN.

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Pasture growing conditions reported 13 per cent poor, 15 per cent fair, 66 per cent good and six per cent excellent.

Surface soil moisture conditions are rated as (six) six per cent poor, 14 (nine) per cent fair, 68 (72) per cent good, 12 (13) per cent excellent, and none (none) reported as excessive.

Elsewhere throughout the province, weather conditions have allowed harvest activities to move ahead at a strong pace this week.

Last week’s major crops in the bin was at 30 per cent, while it is now reported at 45 per cent with 48 per cent of all crops combined. This is slightly ahead of both the five- and 10-year averages of 41 and 45 per cent respectively.

Crops in the swath are currently at 21 per cent compared to the five- and 10-year average of 25 per cent.

The yield index remains well above the five- and 10-year averages; however, it has dropped four points from the last report on September 8 and is now at 112 per cent of the five-year average.

The Central region index has stayed static, while the other four regions have experienced modest drops between four and seven per cent from two weeks ago.

With almost half of the crop now harvested, grades on the major crops are high quality on a provincial average.

Spring Wheat is 93 per cent at 1CW and 2CW, Barley at 42 per cent Malt and 51 per cent 1CW, Oats are 68 per cent 1CW and 2CW, Canola is 91 per cent 1CAN with peas being 85 per cent 1CAN and 2CAN. Durum Wheat is also looking excellent at 97 per cent 1CW and 2CW.

The smoky conditions, shorter daylight hours, morning dew and scattered showers or rainfall are contributing to crops not drying down as desired in some areas.

Producers are taking off tough or damp grain and having it dried. Soil moisture ratings stayed static on the week at 63 per cent good or excellent for surface, with sub soil moisture at 67 per cent rated good or excellent.

Fall-seeded crops are doing well at this time, with 78 per cent rated as good and seven per cent in excellent condition.

Pasture is drying off in almost all areas, but continues to be rated high with 55 per cent rated good or excellent condition.

Frost activity was prevalent in the northern areas of Alberta this past week. While the southern areas did not experience killing frost, there were extended periods where temperatures dipped below -2C.