(rdnewsNOW)

By Alberta Financial Services Corporation/Government of Alberta

Conditions As Of Oct. 22, 2024

Only three per cent of total canola left to combine in Central Alberta region

Oct 21, 2024 | 2:40 PM

Harvest progressed 3 per cent and is now estimated to be 99 per cent complete in the Central Alberta region.

That according to the latest Alberta Crop Report from Alberta Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta, which indicates there is still 3 per cent of total canola left to combine.

If conditions are stable this week, harvest should soon be complete. Many farmers who are completed harvest are spraying or doing field work as heavy weed pressure and crop regrowth has been spotted in some fields due to later season moisture. Cold weather and killing frosts have helped manage this.

Surface (sub-surface) soil moisture is rated 17 (42) per cent poor, 28 (41) per cent fair, 53 (15) per cent good, 2 (2) per cent excellent and 0 (0) per cent excessive.

Forage reserves are estimated to be adequate for 85 per cent of the region and surplus for 4 per cent. Feed grain reserves are estimated to be adequate for 84 per cent of the region and surplus for 4 per cent.

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Some producers are reported to be abandoning their second cut hay. However, some parts of the region still indicated that farmers will be able to build up their reserve stocks with their surplus feed.

Provincial harvest progressed another 5 per cent over the last week and is now 96 per cent complete. This is ahead of the 5- year average of 90 per cent. A week of dry weather in most areas around the province helped producers get in the field, even with cool temperatures that decreased combining hours during the day due to extended dew or frost.

Barley, dry peas, and spring wheat harvest are virtually complete, but canola and oats are only 92 and 93 per cent combined, respectively. Progress of both crops is still ahead of their 5-year average. Fall seeded crop quality has slightly declined two per cent since last week and is now rated as 54 per cent good to excellent.

The best ratings were in the South where fall seeded crop is rated (5-year average) 76 (52) per cent good to excellent, followed by the Central Region at 64 (60) per cent good to excellent and the North West with 57 (59) per cent rated good to excellent.

The lowest rated was in the North East Region at 11 (66) per cent good to excellent. There is no fall seeded crop reported in the Peace Region. There is some talk of fall rains increasing weed pressure, but frost is helping manage that in some regions.

The limited precipitation this week was mostly in the North West and North East Regions with some showers along the western edge of the Central Region. Some areas in the North East received up to 20 mm while the North West received up to 10 mm. The rest of the province received under 1 mm.

Though conditions were suitable for harvesting, surface soil moisture conditions decreased around the province. Last week, provincial surface soil was rated 53 per cent good to excellent and is now 45 per cent, on par with the 5-year average. Regionally, surface soil moisture (last week, 5-year average) is rated 39 (46, 24) per cent good to excellent in the South, 55 (64, 51) per cent good to excellent in the Central, 27 (39,53) per cent good to excellent in the North East, 31 (36,67) per cent good to excellent in the North West and 86 (91, 60) per cent good to excellent in the Peace.

As for sub-surface soil moisture (last week, 5-year average) is rated 30 (30, 20) per cent good to excellent in the South, 17 (18, 45) per cent good to excellent in the Central, 21 (23, 57) per cent good to excellent in the North East, 29 (25, 70) per cent good to excellent in the North West and 88 (93, 58) per cent good to excellent in the Peace. Provincially, subsurface soil moisture is rated 31 per cent good to excellent, stable from last week and less than the 5-year average of 44 per cent good to excellent.

Pasture growth conditions decreased 1 per cent to 34 per cent rated good to excellent. Regionally, pasture conditions were stable except the North East which dropped 3 per cent to 15 per cent good to excellent and the Central Region which dropped 2 per cent to 25 per cent good to excellent. The South, North West and Peace Regions remained stable at 51, 19 and 56 per cent good to excellent, respectively.

Provincially, forage reserves are rated 3 per cent deficit, 10 per cent shortfall, 78 per cent adequate and 10 per cent surplus. The feed grain reserves are rated as 3 per cent deficit, 13 per cent shortfall, 75 per cent adequate and 9 per cent surplus.

The common theme around the province is there is little buying and selling of feed as producers are trying to build up their reserve stocks. Overall, 15 per cent of areas report producers purchased feed grain and 13 per cent purchased forages. Cattle are just starting to be brought home for winter feeding.