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This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
Alberta Crop Conditions as of September 1, 2015 (Abbreviated Report)
Alberta producers were able to make good harvest progress this past week with the South region showing the greatest advancement. Thick smoke haze in the atmosphere reduced temperatures and slowed drying across much of the province. High winds in southern Alberta helped to dry crops but also caused damage by blowing swaths and breaking heads. Harvest progress is estimated at 21% combined/19% swathed, approximately 1 week ahead of the longer term average. 37% of the canola, 13% of the barley and 10% of the spring wheat have been swathed. In 2014, harvest progress was 13% combined/26% swathed. See Table #1.
With minimal precipitation activity this week, soil moisture ratings declined or were unchanged. Provincial surface soil moisture ratings declined 4 percentage points to 35% rated good or excellent. The percentage of the province rated poor increased by 2 points to 24%. The Central region recorded the largest decline, down 14 points. Provincial subsoil moisture ratings declined 3 points to 32% rated good or excellent. The percentage rated poor increased 1 point to 25%. Again, the Central region showed the largest decline, down 8 points.
Hay and pastures rated good or excellent declined 2 percentage points since last report to 17% of the province. The portion rated poor was unchanged at 42%. Growth is declining as the end of the growing season approaches. See Table #2.
Regional Assessments:
The 2015 Alberta Crop Report Series provides summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- 45% of crops combined; 19% swathed (Last week 24% combined/17% swathed)
- 58% of spring wheat, 74% of barley, 67% of canola have been swathed or combined.
- Surface moisture rated 31% good or excellent (- 5 points from last week); Poor rating increased 4 points to 32%.
- Subsoil moisture rated 26% good or excellent (- 4 points from last week); Poor rating increased 2 points to 31%.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- 9% of crops combined; 14% swathed (last week 4% combined/8% swathed)
- 18% of spring wheat, 20% of barley, 33% of canola have been swathed or combined.
- Surface moisture rated 45% good or excellent (- 14 points); Poor rating increased 4 points to 11%.
- Subsoil moisture rated 42% good or excellent (- 8 points); Poor rating unchanged at 10%.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- 9% of crops combined; 19% swathed (last week 3% combined/5% swathed).
- 22% of spring wheat, 19% of barley, 32% of canola have been swathed or combined.
- Surface soil moisture rated 41% good or excellent (unchanged); Poor rating unchanged at 16%.
- Subsoil moisture rated 38% good or excellent (unchanged); Poor rating unchanged at 19%.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- 12% of crops combined; 14% swathed (last week 5% combined/5% swathed).
- 28% of spring wheat, 16% of barley, 27% of canola have been swathed or combined.
- Surface soil moisture rated 15% good or excellent (- 4 points); Poor rating unchanged at 49%.
- Subsoil moisture rated 14% good or excellent (- 1 point); Poor rating unchanged at 52%.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- 18% of crops combined; 33% swathed (last week 6% combined/23% swathed).
- 36% of spring wheat, 26% of barley, 63% of canola have been swathed or combined.
- Surface soil moisture rated 27% good or excellent (- 1 point); Poor rating increased 1 point to 30%.
- Subsoil moisture rated 26% good or excellent (unchanged); Poor rating unchanged at 27%.
James Wright, Risk Analyst
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
Actuarial, Analytics & Forecasting Unit
Lacombe, Alberta
Email: james.wright@afsc.ca
Telephone: (403)782-8336
September 4, 2015
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