(rdnewsNOW file photo)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Good Harvest Conditions

Harvest nearly complete in central Alberta

Oct 1, 2021 | 1:49 PM

Harvest progress is said to have risen by 10 points over last week throughout central Alberta.

That according to the latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry which says farmers have harvested 94 per cent of the major crops; significantly ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 48 and 55 per cent respectively.

The pea harvest is complete, barley is 98 per cent complete, followed by spring wheat at 97, oats at 93 and canola at 87 per cent harvested. Combining east of Highway 2 is ahead of western areas.

While pastures are rating 33 per cent poor, 35 per cent fair, 30 per cent good and 2 per cent rated excellent.

Overall, the weather this past week is said to have supported good harvest conditions with warm temperatures and some showers or rainfall reported in the North East, North West and Peace regions causing short interruptions. There are incidents of mild frost in pockets around the province, but a killing frost has yet to be reported. The average timeframe for killing frost is the first 10 days of October, depending upon location.

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Harvest progress increased 12 points over last week and is now 90 per cent complete. Of the crop remaining, six per cent is standing and four per cent is in the swath. There are reports of standing canola with green growth holding up harvest in the North West and Peace regions, as well as western counties of North East region. Peace region currently estimates 71 per cent of crop is in the bin, North West region is at 80 per cent harvested, with South, Central and North East all hovering close to 95 per cent combined.

According to officials, soil moisture conditions declined somewhat from last week with low amounts of rainfall recorded for most of the province.

Surface soil moisture (last week in brackets) is currently estimated as 34 (30) per cent poor, 35 (31) per cent fair, 29 (37) per cent good and 2 (2) per cent excellent. Sub-surface soil moisture ratings (last week in brackets) of poor are 43 (41) per cent, fair 31 (30) per cent, good 24 (26) per cent and excellent is 2 (3) per cent.

Officials say fall rains are needed now, along with at least near normal moisture throughout the winter in early spring to prepare for next year’s plantings.

Pastures are now going dormant in most areas. Current conditions are reported as 47 per cent poor, 32 per cent fair, 20 per cent good with only 1 per cent excellent.

Livestock producers are making use of every available feed source including already reaped annual crop acres, and some sparse regrowth on feed crops harvested early.