Harvest largely complete in central Alberta region

While weather has been supportive of combining, some areas are experiencing heavy dew in the mornings and onsetting dew in the evenings. Central Region sub-surface soil moisture is currently rated (5-year average) as 42 (25) per cent poor, 39 (32) per cent fair, 16 (40) per cent good, 2 (4) per cent excellent, and 1 (0) per cent excessive.

Elsewhere, compared to the previous week, which saw scattered showers across most of the province, especially in the North West, North East and Peace, this week’s light rains focused on the edge of the North West Region and the Peace Region, though farmers were still able to significantly progress combining. Very few areas in these regions received above 10 mm. As well, most of the North East, Central and South Region received less than 1 mm of rain and combining progressed as normal.

Since last week, provincial harvest progressed 7 per cent to 91 per cent combined of major crops, and all crop harvest is at 92 per cent complete. The most harvest progress is in the South with 97 per cent complete combining of all crops followed by the Central at 96 per cent complete. The Peace Region has the most left to combine as farmers are only 84 per cent complete, followed by the North East at 87 per cent and the North West at 89 per cent complete. All regions are ahead of their 5-year average combining progress.

Provincially, durum, winter wheat, fall rye, dry peas, lentils, chickpeas, and mustard harvest are virtually complete. Many other crops are near completion as well. Crops such as oats, mixed grain, canola, flax, dry beans and sugar beets still have more than 10 per cent left to combine. While combining of canola has the most left to combine (of major crops), the majority of crop left is currently swathed.

While minimal precipitation was seen over the past week, the majority of the province has experienced frost so far this harvest season. Hard frosts were recorded across most of the northern half of the Peace Region and through a significant portion of the Southern and Central Regions. However, most of the harvest season has been quite warm. Cooler temperatures over the last week and light rain improved surface soil moisture conditions in all regions, except the North East.

This week, surface soil moisture rated good to excellent (change since last week) is rated 46 per cent (+2) in the South, 64 per cent (+4) in the Central Region, 39 per cent (-8) in the North East, 36 per cent (+2) in the North West, and 91 per cent (+24) in the Peace. Overall, provincial surface soil moisture is rated (5-year average) 13 (23) per cent poor, 33 (31) per cent fair, 49 (35) per cent good, 5 (10) per cent excellent, 0 (1) per cent excessive.

Regional sub-surface soil moisture rated good to excellent (change since last week) is rated 30 per cent (-18) in the South, 18 per cent (-1) in the Central Region, 23 per cent (-8) in the North East, 25 per cent (+1) in the North West and 93 per cent (+24) in the Peace. Overall, provincial sub-surface soil moisture is rated (5-year average) 27 (27) per cent poor, 42 (30) per cent fair, 28 (32) per cent good, 4 (11) per cent excellent, 0 (1) per cent excessive.

As more crop is combined, estimated quality ratings continue to be updated and are more accurate since first being projected in early August. As of October 8, estimates indicate 49 per cent of hard red spring is rated 1 C.W. (less than the 5-year average of 54 per cent, 34 per cent is rating 2 C.W. (less than the 5-year average of 37 per cent), and 5 per cent is rating Can Fd (more than the 5-year average of 2 per cent). As for durum, 41 per cent (5-year average of 57 per cent) is rating 1 C.W., 31 (29) per cent is rating 2 C.W. and 14 per cent (10) is rating 3 C.W. For barley, 26 (32) per cent is rating malt quality, and 45 (56) per cent is rating 1 C.W. Reports indicate 32 (33) per cent of oats are rating 1 C.W. and 38 (26) per cent are rating 2 C.W. For canola, 74 (89) per cent is rating 1 Can. and 17 (9) per cent is rating 2 Can. Lastly, 11 (26) per cent of dry peas are rating 1 Can. and 73 (58) per cent are rating 2 Can.

After slowly declining, since the first estimate in the beginning of August, the 5-year dryland yield index for major crops slightly increased from the last report and is currently at 98. This implies that provincially, major crop yields may only be 2 per cent below their 5-year average yield. The South Region remains having the highest index as yields are expected to be 21.9 per cent above their 5-year average yield. The North West and Peace Region are expected to yield 4 and 2 per cent above their 5-year average, respectively. Both Central (19 per cent below) and the North East (11 per cent below) are expected to be below their 5-year average. Looking at major crops, the highest yield estimates for spring wheat (53.2 bu/ac), barley (69.1 bu/ac), oats (80.6 bu/ac) and canola (37.2 bu/ac) are all found in the North West Region. The highest dry pea yield (38.3 bu/ac) is found in the Peace Region.

Pasture growth conditions were quite stable around the province from last week with the North East seeing the biggest change (a 7 per cent decrease). Regionally, pasture growth conditions are rated as (5-year average) 51 (26) per cent good to excellent in the South, 27 (35) per cent good to excellent in the Central Region, 18 (24) per cent good to excellent in the North East, 19 (35) per cent good to excellent in the North West and 56 (41) per cent good to excellent in the Peace.

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by AFSC/Government of Alberta

Harvest largely complete in central Alberta region

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