By rdnewsNOW Staff

Additional 20 Per cent Harvested

Harvest continues despite recent wet weather

Sep 17, 2021 | 5:16 PM

Despite recent rain showers throughout central Alberta last week, local producers were still able to harvest an additional 20 per cent of acres.

According to the latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, 19 per cent of crops are still standing, regionally, while 17 per cent are swathed and 64 per cent combined (compared to the 5-year average of 28 per cent).

Officials say about 99 per cent of dry peas, 71 per cent of spring wheat, 78 per cent of barley and 65 per cent of oats are now in the bin. Almost 37 per cent of canola has been harvested and another 39 per cent is in swath. Pasture growing conditions are rated as 29 per cent poor, 26 per cent fair and 45 per cent good.

Since the beginning of September, many areas have received more than 15 mm of rain, with much of the North West Region and the eastern-half of the Peace Region recording more than 40 mm. In contrast, relatively drier conditions have prevailed for the South and North East Regions, receiving less than 5 mm through scattered showers.

As of Sept. 14, wide-spread damaging frosts have not yet occurred. However, small pockets of frost were reported in low-lying parts across most areas. In addition, hailstorms were reported in some parts of the Central Region, with damage to be determined.

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Favourable harvest conditions continued over the past week, helping producers harvest their crops at a steady rate, and combine an additional 18 per cent of major crops. Overall, about 61 per cent of major crops have now been harvested – far ahead of the 5-year average of 28 per cent and the 10-year average of 32 per cent. About 16 per cent of major crops are said to be in swath and 23 per cent remain standing. When compared to the 5-year averages (2016-2020), harvest progress is ahead for all regions.

Across the province, precipitation improved soil moisture reserves by two per cent. Provincial surface soil moisture is now rated as 29 per cent poor, 33 per cent fair, 36 per cent good and 2 per cent excellent. Regionally, soil moisture reserves improved the most in the Central Region (up 13 per cent from a week ago), followed by the Peace Region (up eight per cent from previous week).

Compared to last week, soil moisture improved by one per cent in the North East and North West Regions, while it deteriorated in the South Region by eight per cent. As a result of received moisture since August, some earlier cut and silaged fields are showing second growth, from which producers may be able to salvage some feed. However, second growth and green immature kernels are felt to be an issue in some other fields.

Pasture and hay growth is generally slow at this point, with cooler temperatures, but for the North West Region, some late growth due to the moisture is reported. Pasture conditions (tame hay numbers shown in the brackets) across the province are now reported as 53 (48) per cent poor, 26 (28) per cent fair and 21 (24) per cent good.