(rdnewsNOW)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

Local Harvest Virtually Complete

Fall field work well underway in central Alberta

Oct 15, 2021 | 1:46 PM

Harvest in the central Alberta region is virtually complete and producers are progressing with fall fieldwork.

That according to the latest crop report from Alberta Agriculture and Forestry in partnership with Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC).

In some counties, officials say livestock producers are purchasing feed and straw due to extremely dry conditions and heat stress from the growing season.

Forage reserve estimates in this region are 10 per cent deficit, 17 per cent shortfall, 65 per cent adequate and 8 per cent surplus, while feed grain supplies are 9 per cent deficit, 15 per cent shortfall, 64 per cent adequate and 12 per cent surplus.

Fall-seeded crops are rated as 27 per cent poor, 18 per cent fair, 45 per cent good and 10 per cent excellent. Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface ratings shown in brackets) are rated as 27 (34) per cent poor, 35 (29) per cent fair, 35 (35) per cent good and 3 (2) per cent excellent.

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Meantime, favourable harvest conditions in 2021 advanced harvesting operations by three to four weeks across the province. While harvest is practically complete in the South, Central and North East Regions, about 98 per cent of crops in the North West Region and 95 per cent of crops in the Peace Region are now in the bin.

Provincially, harvest progress is now 99 per cent complete, well ahead of the 5-year average of 71 per cent and the 10-year average of 81 per cent. About 0.5 per cent of major crops are in swath and 0.7 per cent remain standing. When compared to the averages, harvest progress is well ahead for all regions.

Weather has started to cool down, however, with frosts happening overnight. Soil moisture remained poor throughout much of the South, Central, North East and North West Regions and is near normal for the Peace Region and small pockets in the North West and Central Regions. Provincial surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture shown in brackets) is currently depleted and rated as 35 (42) per cent poor, 35 (32) per cent fair, 27 (23) per cent good and 3 (3) per cent excellent.

Feed availability is described as variable across the province, even within municipalities, depending on topography, precipitation received, etc. Some producers have adequate or even surplus feed grain and forages, while others are supplementing their feed shortfalls with straw from their fields, as there has been a substantial amount baled after harvest.

In other cases, producers need to buy straw where little crop was harvested. Additionally, cattle in most areas are grazing on harvested fields and producers are cutting and baling harvested fields. Hay and straw are mostly moved locally to minimize trucking costs.

Provincially, forage reserves are estimated at 20 per cent deficit, 26 per cent shortfall, 50 per cent adequate, and 4 per cent surplus, while feed grain supplies are 18 per cent deficit, 24 per cent shortfall, 52 per cent adequate and 6 per cent surplus.