Central Alberta harvest ahead of five-year average

Widespread dry conditions persist, with most areas needing moisture to support fall-seeded crops.

Sub-surface soil moisture (5-year average) is rated as 44 (31) per cent poor, 43 (32) per cent fair, 12 (35) per cent good, 1 (2) per cent excellent, and 0 (0) per cent excessive.

Harvest across the province is nearing completion, with most regions reporting a few late-seeded cereal and canola fields remaining. Dry weather has supported steady progress, though occasional rain and frost caused minor delays in some areas.

Provincial harvest for all crops advanced 18 per cent over the past two weeks to 96 per cent complete, above the 5-year average of 93 per cent.

Regionally, harvest is virtually complete across the province, with the South, Central, and North East regions all at 96 per cent, and the North West and Peace regions at 97 and 98 per cent, respectively. Dry peas are fully harvested, while spring wheat, barley, and oats are virtually complete.

Provincially, canola is 92 per cent combined, ahead of the 5-year average of 86 per cent. Fall-seeded crop progress remains closely tied to soil moisture conditions.

Provincially, fall-seeded crops condition rated good to excellent declined by 6 per cent over the past week to 34 per cent. Regionally, good to excellent conditions (5-year averages) are highest in the South at 51 (58) per cent, followed by the Central at 30 (56). The North West sits at 15 (58) per cent, while the North East is the lowest at 7 (51) per cent. The Peace Region has no fall-seeded crops reported.

As most crops are now combined or virtually completed, provincial crop quality estimates have been updated.

As of this week, quality ratings by the top three grades (5-year average) are as follows: for hard red spring wheat, 76 (56) per cent is graded 1 C.W., 19 (35) per cent is graded 2 C.W., and 3 (7) per cent is graded 3 C.W. Durum wheat HAS 48 (55) per cent graded 1 C.W., 23 (28) per cent is graded 2 C.W., and 17 (11) per cent is graded 3 C.W. For barley, 31 (31) per cent is graded as malt (malt describes a 1 C.W. grade malting variety barley), 60 (54) per cent is graded 1 C.W., and 9 (13) per cent is graded 2 C.W. For oats, 24 (34) per cent is graded 1 C.W, 26 (29) per cent is graded 2 C.W., and 49 (37) per cent is graded 3 C.W. Canola is graded at 92 (85) per cent 1 Can., 6 (11) per cent 2 Can., and 1 (3) per cent 3 Can. For dry peas, 9 (24) per cent is graded 1 Can., 77 (62) per cent 2 Can., and 13 (11) per cent 3 Can.

Light, scattered showers provided limited relief, with the Peace region showing the most improvement, while the North East and North West saw relative declines or no change in soil moisture conditions. Frost was also widespread, with several areas experiencing hard frosts that helped dry down crops but added pressure to already stressed pastures and hay fields.

Currently, provincial surface soil moisture is rated 18 per cent good to excellent, compared to the 5-year average of 41 per cent. Regionally, good to excellent surface soil moisture ratings (weekly change) is 25 per cent (+3) in the South, 9 per cent (+1) in the Central, 6 per cent (-1) in the North East, 22 per cent (-1) in the North West, and 36 per cent (+9) in the Peace Region.

Conditions of sub-surface soil moisture rated good to excellent (weekly change) is 24 per cent (-1) in the South, 13 per cent (+1) in the Central, 10 per cent (0) in the North East, 19 per cent (0) in the North West, and 34 per cent (+6) in the Peace Region. Provincially, sub-surface soil moisture is rated at 19 per cent good to excellent, well below the 5-year average of 37 per cent.

This report provides the final estimates of dryland yields for the current crop season, with major crops reporting yield estimates above 5-year averages. The provincial 5-year dryland yield index have steadily improved since August and is expected to be 27 per cent above the 5-year average for major crops. Dry peas show the highest increase at 33 per cent above the 5-year average, followed by spring wheat and barley at 23 per cent above, and canola at 20 per cent above. Oats are estimated to be on par with the average. Regionally, all areas are expected to exceed 5-year averages, with the exception of the Peace, where yields are close to average.

Pasture conditions have slightly improved or remained stable across the province, though most regions continue to report stress from prolonged dryness and recent hard frosts. Provincially, conditions increased 2 per cent from last week to 17 per cent rated good to excellent.

Regionally, good to excellent ratings (weekly change) are 34 per cent (+3) in the South, 5 per cent (+2) in the Central, 1 per cent (0) in the North East, 14 per cent (0) in the North West, and 27 per cent (0) in the Peace Region (see Table 4).

Forage reserves are provincially rated at 10 per cent deficit, 19 per cent shortfall, 62 per cent adequate and 9 per cent surplus. The feed grain reserves are rated at 3 per cent deficit, 9 per cent shortfall, 75 per cent adequate and 13 per cent surplus. Dryland hay yields were limited across much of the province, especially for the second cut due to limited regrowth. As a result, most producers have already started bringing cattle home for winter feeding.

by AFSC/Government of Alberta

Central Alberta harvest ahead of five-year average

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