Recent moisture delays harvest progress in central Alberta

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Officials say significant rain has fallen across the province since the August 8 report with a large swath of the North West, North East, and eastern Peace regions receiving over 40 mm, with some areas receiving over 80 mm. These regions have continued to receive above average precipitation over the last 30 days, which is reported to have helped crop development.

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Currently the North East, North West, and Peace regions are reporting yield expectations and harvest progress near long-term averages. However, the continued lack of precipitation in the South and Central regions is reported to have negatively impacted crops, as harvest progress is ahead of normal in these regions while yield estimates remain below the long-term averages.

Since conditions were reported on August 8, the percentage of all crop rated in good to excellent condition in the Central, North West, and Peace regions has effectively remained unchanged, with reports indicating changes of less than one per cent.

Regions which have reported a notable change in good to excellent conditions for all crops are the North East with a three per cent increase and the South with a three per cent decrease.

Provincially, 43 per cent of all crops are rated in good to excellent condition, consistent with the last report and below the five-year and 10-year averages by 15 and 19 per cent, respectively.

Reports estimate that 15 per cent of all crops and 11 per cent of major crops have been combined across the province. Both the five-year and 10-year average for all crops combined is nine per cent for this week. The percentage of all crops combined by region are 37 per cent in the South, 12 per cent in the Central, two per cent in the North East, one per cent in the North West and two per cent in the Peace.

The winter cereals harvest is nearing completion, and the dry pea harvest is progressing in all regions. Provincial yield estimates for major crops are unchanged since August 8, with barley and oat yields revised up 1.5 and 1.6 bushels per acre respectively, and spring wheat, canola, and dry peas yields all revised up 0.5 bushels per acre.

Provincial major crop yield estimates remain lower than average, with the exception of oats. The provincial yield indexes, which state 2023 yields as a percentage of the historical averages, indicate that provincial major crop yield estimates are at 86 per cent compared to the past five years and 84 per cent compared to the last 10 years.

Regional 10-year indexes for all crops are reported as 61 per cent for the South, 76 per cent for Central, 94 per cent for the North East, 99 per cent for the North West and 94 per cent for the Peace.

Precipitation since the August 8 report has improved the per cent of provincial surface soil moisture rated good to excellent by four per cent due to regional soil ratings improving in the South by five per cent, in Central by four per cent and in the North East by seven per cent. Surface soil moisture good to excellent ratings in the North West and Peace regions remain unchanged.

Sub-surface moisture conditions rated good to excellent have increased across the province since August 8 by three per cent due to regional ratings increases of six per cent in Central, seven per cent in the North East, and three per cent in the North West. Sub-surface good to excellent moisture ratings were unchanged for the South region and decreased by three per cent in the Peace region.

Provincial pasture growth rated good to excellent is at 27 per cent, which is a decrease of two per cent since the last report. Regionally, the percent of pasture rated good to excellent is at six per cent in the South, 34 per cent in Central, 39 per cent in the North East, 45 per cent in the North West and 47 per cent in the Peace.

Provincial tame hay growth rated good to excellent is at 36 per cent, unchanged since the last report. Regional good to excellent percentages for tame hay are five per cent in the South, 43 per cent in Central, 34 per cent in the North East, 50 per cent in the North West and 47 per cent in the Peace.