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By AFSC/Government of Alberta

Conditions As of Sept. 16, 2025

Central Alberta harvest over halfway done

Sep 19, 2025 | 3:24 PM

Warm, dry weather has advanced harvest to 53 per cent complete for major crops in the Central Alberta region, slightly below the 5-year average of 55 per cent.

That according to the latest Alberta Crop Report from Agriculture Financial Services (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta.

Officials say harvest of dry peas is nearly complete, and 27 per cent of canola is now swathed.

Dry conditions continue to reduce moisture levels, accelerating crop ripening and causing stress to remaining crops and fall seeded fields. As a results, surface (sub-surface) moisture conditions are now rated as 20 (19) per cent poor, 41 (33) per cent fair, 38 (47) per cent good, 2 (2) per cent excellent, and 0 (0) per cent excessive.

Most second-cut hay has reportedly been baled, but regrowth is limited, and pastures are showing visible signs of moisture stress. Pasture (tame hay) conditions are rated 14 (19) per cent poor, 44 (41) per cent fair, 42 (40) per cent good, and 0 (0) per cent excellent.

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Provincewide, as warm and dry conditons continue across the province, harvest operations are steadily progressing. Progress for major crops has reached 59 per cent complete, up 20 per cent from a week previous. This is above the 5- and 10-year averages of 52 per cent and 41 per cent, respectively.

Regionally, the South is furthest ahead with 67 per cent of major crops harvested, followed by the Peace Region at 61 per cent. The North West and North East regions are at 59 and 56 per cent complete, respectively, while the Central Region stands at 53 per cent.

Provincial harvest progress for major crops (week over week change) is 98 per cent (+8) complete for dry peas, 75 per cent (+26) for spring wheat, 75 per cent (+22) for barley, 63 per cent (+23) for oats, and 28 per cent (+14) combined for canola (see Table 1). While canola has the most remaining to be harvested, 33 per cent has been swathed.

Scattered and isolated showers were reported in a few localized areas of the South and Central Regions. However, they were not enough to improve overall moisture conditions, as widespread dryness continues across the province with little to no rainfall in recent weeks.

While this has supported harvest progress, it has reduced moisture reserves in the North East, North West, and Peace regions, where moisture stress has persisted throughout the growing season.

In the South and Central Regions, moisture loss has been further intensified by high daytime temperatures and persistent warm winds. As a result, provincial surface moisture is currently rated as 29 per cent good to excellent, below the 5-year average of 43 per cent.

Regionally, surface (5-year average) moisture rated as good to excellent is 28 (27) per cent in the South, 40 (45) per cent in the Central, 14 (54) per cent in the North East, 26 (53) per cent in the North West, and 34 (55) per cent in the Peace. Provincially, sub-surface moisture is rated as 31 per cent good to excellent, below the 5-year average of 38 per cent. Regional sub-surface (5-year average) moisture rated as good to excellent is 30 (17) per cent in the South, 49 (40) per cent in the Central, 14 (50) per cent in the North East, 21 (53) per cent in the North West, and 33 (54) per cent in the Peace.

Pasture conditions rated as good to excellent have declined across the province compared to the previous week. The prolonged hot, dry weather has led to a widespread moisture stress, which in turn has slowed pasture regrowth in some regions. Current good to excellent pasture conditions (5-year averages) are 32 (31) per cent provincially, 35 (19) per cent in the South, 42 (39) per cent in the Central, 14 (30) per cent in the North East, 18 (36) per cent in the North West, and 26 (43) per cent in the Peace Region.

Similarly, provincial tame hay conditions rated good to excellent have declined to 26 per cent, below the 5-year average of 35 per cent. Regionally, tame hay conditions (5-year averages) rated good to excellent are 31 (19) per cent in the South, 40 (42) per cent in the Central, 10 (28) per cent in the North East, 19 (41) per cent in the North West, and 24 (43) per cent in the Peace. Poor regrowth following the first cut has been a challenge in most areas, especially where second cuts were minimal due to recent dryness.