| | This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The August 27, 2013 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.
Provincial
Harvest operations are underway in all regions with 9.8% of the crops in the swath and 4.5% combined. Warm temperatures over the past two weeks have benefited crop development though the risk of damage due to frost still exists especially for the areas north east and north west of Edmonton. Crops in these areas need another 7 – 10 days of frost free weather.
Crop condition ratings continue to be very good and support current yield estimates indicating production could be 10 – 15% above long term yield averages. Soil moisture ratings have declined significantly since late July from 88% to 72% good/excellent. Precipitation will be needed in the South region in September to support winter wheat plantings as 55% of the region is rated poor/fair for surface soil moisture. Bertha army worm has made an appearance this year on canola. Some producers have needed to spray in order to mitigate damage.
Hay and pasture ratings have declined to 6% poor; 27% fair; 52% good; 15% excellent due to dryness and time of the season. The dry weather has allowed first cut dryland haying to near completion though quality is poor based upon the wet weather experience in late June and July. Second cut dryland haying is 22% completed with 83% currently rated good/excellent for quality. Second cut irrigated hay in southern Alberta is 54% completed.
Regional Assessments
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Harvest operations progressing nicely with 19% swathed and 13% combined.
- Quality has been very good thus far due to the good harvest weather experienced to date.
- Harvesting of special crops getting underway with under cutting of dry beans and the digging of early potatoes.
- Soil moisture becoming an issue again this year as it pertains to potential seeding of winter cereals.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Harvest operations very active in the east portion and becoming more general in the central part of the region. Harvest in the west portion will be general shortly.
- Approximately 11% of crops swathed and 4% combined.
- Soil moisture conditions becoming quite dry with 30% of region rated as poor/fair.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Harvest operations getting underway with 3% swathed and less than 1% combined.
- Rain showers active in the region.
- Crop development behind normal due to the cool conditions experienced this summer.
- Second cut dryland haying 17% completed.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Crop development behind normal due to cool wet conditions experienced this spring and summer.
- Approximately 4% of crops have been swathed, principally canola and virtually nothing has been combined to date.
- 11% of second cut dryland hay crop has been baled with excellent quality.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- 10% of the canola in the region has been swathed.
- Less than 1% of crops have been combined, principally field peas.
- Soil moisture remains very good with 97% of the region rated good/excellent.
Prepared by:
James Wright
Risk Analyst, Actuarial Unit
AFSC, Lacombe
Telephone: (403)782-8336
Prepared by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation, in cooperation with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. For more information, please contact the writer, James Wright.
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