Central Alberta is the farthest behind when it comes to this year's harvest, according to the Alberta Crop Report.
The report, issued at the end of September, says only 58 per cent of the crop had been harvested in Central Alberta. However, that's up from 39 per cent the previous week.
The western half of the region was especially behind, with only 35 per cent of the crop harvested as of the beginning of this month. In the central portion of the region, 65 per cent of the crop had been harvested, while 75 per cent of the crop had been taken off.
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development crop statistician Lukas Matejovsky says the dry, relatively sunny weather experienced during the first week of October needs to continue to enable Central Alberta producers to get the crop off – especially those on the western side of the region.
In Alberta as a whole, the harvest was 72 per cent complete as of the beginning of the month, up from 52 per cent in late September.
Surface soil moisture ratings in Olds and area improved to 73 per cent good or excellent from 68 per cent in late September.
Sub-soil moisture ratings also improved, to 77 per cent from 69 per cent.
Ninety per cent of pastures and 86 per cent of the tame hay was rated good or excellent.
In the province as a whole, producers were able to make good harvest progress despite having only a few good days early in the week before being stopped by wet weather throughout Alberta.
Harvest is estimated to be 72 per cent completed provincially, up from 52 per cent completed the previous week. Seventy-six per cent of the spring wheat, 68 per cent of the barley, 68 per cent of the canola and 58 per cent of the oats had been combined. Field pea harvest was virtually complete, with 99.2 per cent in the bin. Harvest was most advanced in the south and Peace regions where more than 80 per cent was in the bin.
“Our data shows that, as of September 23, 27 per cent of crops were swathed and 52 per cent combined,” Matejovsky says. “Right now, the vast majority of crops that remain standing are expected to be straight-combined.” Matejovsky says the cool and wet conditions in September did hurt crop quality, as expected, but not as much as they could have. In fact, the quality of this year's crop is expected to be about average.
“The yield expectations continue to improve in all regions of the province and could still be slightly above average,” he says. “The 2014 dryland canola yield is estimated at 39 bushels per acre, spring wheat is at 46 and barley is at 67. Over 90 per cent of spring wheat and 85 per cent of durum are expected to be at grade three or better.
“Seventy per cent of barley is expected at grade number 1, with 15 per cent expected to be eligible for malt,” he says. “As far as canola is concerned, 80 per cent is expected to be grade 1 Canada, and 72 per cent of field peas are grading food quality of number 2 or better.”
