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According to the latest Crop Report, 42 per cent of the provincial crop has been harvested; that's ahead of the five-year average of 40 per cent and the ten-year average of 32 per cent.
Roy Larsen, Director of the Statistics and Data Development Section with Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, says regionally, the South leads with 52 per cent of all crops harvested, followed by the Northeast and Northwest both at 41 per cent. The Peace is at 38 per cent and Central at 31 per cent.”
Harvest of fall rye and winter wheat are nearly complete, with the dry pea and lentil harvest now 91 per cent combined. Farmers are busy with the spring cereals and just starting to move into the oilseeds. So far, 53 per cent of the barley is done, 49 per cent of the spring wheat, 39 per cent of the oats, and 14 per cent of the canola is complete. The potato harvest is just getting underway at 7 per cent.
Provincially, dryland major crop yield estimates are projected to be above their five-year averages except for oats, which is expected to be slightly below average. Regionally, major crops in the South, Central, Northwest and Northeast regions are projected to be above their five-year averages. Only the Peace is projected to yield slightly below its five-year average.
Larsen notes estimated yields can change due to weather or harvest conditions, which can impact the final crop.
On quality, Larsen reported:
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Spring wheat: 77 per cent rated as No. 1 CW, above the five-year average of 61 per cent.
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Durum wheat: 47 per cent No. 1 CW, below the five-year average of 57 per cent.
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Barley: Malt quality near average at 30 per cent, with 61 per cent rated No. 1 CW.
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Canola: 91 per cent rated No. 1 CAN, above the five-year average of 84 per cent.
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Dry peas: Only 12 per cent rated No. 1 CAN, behind the five-year average of 29 per cent
Larsen notes that grasshoppers and flea beetles are affecting late-season crops like canola in some areas, while gophers are present in some regions.
Warm, dry weather is helping to advance the harvest, but little to no rainfall has resulted in a decline in moisture levels across the province. Surface soil moisture rated good to excellent has dropped to 41 per cent, while sub-surface moisture fell to 42 per cent, with the North East region seeing the steepest decline.
Alberta's Weekly Crop Report is available here.