99 per cent of Alberta’s crops now harvested

Rain showers and cooler temperatures last week in the region limited deterioration of soil moisture levels.

Sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated at 38 per cent poor, 44 per cent fair, 18 per cent good and 0 per cent excellent and excessive.

Meantime, officials say warm weather across the province has continued to allow for a rapid harvest pace and this report indicates that harvest is mostly complete for the majority of crops, with 99 per cent of all crops in the province reported as harvested. This harvest progress remains well ahead of the provincial 5-year average of 82 per cent and the 10-year average of 87 per cent for this time of year.

Rapid progress was reported in the harvest of both oats and canola over the past week, with provincial progress jumping 8 and 10 per cent respectively. This rapid progress was mainly driven by the North East region where oat harvest progressed 4 per cent and canola harvest progressed 12 per cent, and by the North West where oat harvest progressed 18 per cent and canola harvest progressed 21 per cent.

This report also indicates continued improvement in dryland provincial yield estimates for the major crops. Provincial major crops yields are estimated at 95.7 per cent of the five-year average, an improvement of 2.1 per cent over the last estimate reported on October 3, 2023. Provincial yield estimates in bushels per acre by major crop (change from last estimate in brackets) are reported this week as 43.4 (+0.9) for spring wheat, 61.4 (+0.7) for barley, 82 (+0.4) for oats, 37.4 (+1.3) for canola and 35.2 (+0.6) for dry peas.

Crop quality estimates are also updated in this report, with minor changes since last reported on October 3, 2023. Hard red spring wheat is estimated at 65.9 per cent grade #1 C.W., a 2.5 per cent increase; barley is estimated at 26.2 per cent Malt, a 0.7 per cent decrease; oats are estimated at 43.3 per cent #1 C.W., a 1.6 per cent increase; canola is estimated at 81.6 per cent #1 Can., a 0.5 per cent decrease; and dry peas are estimated at 17.6 per cent #1 Can., a 0.3 per cent decrease.

Warm conditions continue to impact the soil moisture ratings across the province. Provincial surface soil moisture rated good to-excellent is at 30 per cent, a decrease of 4 per cent since the last report. Regional surface soil good-to-excellent moisture ratings (weekly change in brackets) are at 7 per cent (2 per cent decrease) in the South, 19 per cent (2 per cent decrease) in Central, 37 per cent (13 per cent decrease) in the North East, 75 per cent (7 per cent decrease) in the North West and 67 per cent (5 per cent increase) in the Peace.

Provincial sub-surface good-to-excellent moisture is rated at 30 per cent, a 2 per cent decrease from the last report. Regional sub-surface soil good-to-excellent moisture ratings (weekly change in brackets) are at 7 per cent (unchanged) in the South, 18 per cent (3 per cent decrease) in Central, 41 per cent (6 per cent decrease) in the North East, 73 per cent (unchanged) in the North West and 67 per cent (2 per cent increase) in the Peace. Provincial pasture ratings are mostly unchanged as pasture rated good-to-excellent is reported at 18 per cent, a 1 per cent increase over the last report. Provincial fall seeded crop rated good-to-excellent is reported at 45 per cent, a 3 per cent decrease from the last report.

by rdnewsNOW staff

99 per cent of Alberta’s crops now harvested

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