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Crop Conditions as of October 31, 2017 – Final Report of 2017
Harvest is virtually complete across the province, with 98.6 per cent of the crops now in the bin (see Table 1). While harvest in the Southern and Central Regions has been completed, good weather conditions over the last two weeks also allowed northern producers to make good harvest progress. About 98 per cent of the crops in the North East, 97 per cent in the North West and 95 per cent in the Peace Region have been harvested. Provincially, the dryland yield index is estimated at 97.4 per cent (see Table 2). Dryland yields for the Southern Region have been below their 5-year averages (2012-2016), while in the Central Region dryland yields are in line with the 5-year averages. For other Regions, dryland yields were above the 5-year averages.
Crop quality was variable across the province. Provincially, crop quality for the top two grades of hard red spring wheat, durum wheat, canola and dry peas as well as malt barley are above their 5-year averages. Quality for barley number one and the top two grades of oats are below the 5-year averages. About 86 per cent of hard red spring wheat has graded in the top two grades, up 10 per cent from the 5-year average. About 85 per cent of durum wheat has graded number 2 or better, up 14 per cent from the 5-year average. About 25 per cent of barley is eligible for malt (up six per cent from the 5-year average) and 58 per cent is graded as number 1 (down six per cent from the 5-year average). About 54 per cent of oats is graded in the top two grades, down 19 per cent from the 5-year average. Almost 87 per cent of harvested canola is graded as number one (up five per cent from the 5-year average), with 10 per cent graded as number 2 (down two per cent from the 5-year average). About 87 per cent of dry peas are graded in the top two grades, up 13 per cent from the 5-year averages.
Provincially, both forage and feed grain reserves are estimated as adequate to surplus, with some producers anticipating a shortfall. Forage reserves are reported as two per cent deficit, 14 per cent shortfall, 68 per cent adequate and 16 per cent surplus, while the rating for feed grain reserves is one per cent deficit, 10 per cent shortfall, 69 per cent adequate and 20 per cent surplus.
REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2017 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Harvest is complete. Recent rainfall and or snowfall added some moisture to the soil. However, high winds in the Region have depleted soil moisture reserves with more moisture now needed.
- Crop quality in this Region for malt barley, the top two grades of spring wheat, durum wheat, oats, canola and dry peas are above the provincial 5-year average.
- Forage reserves are reported as one per cent deficit, 31 per cent shortfall, 64 per cent adequate and four per cent surplus, while the rating for feed grain reserves is 19 per cent shortfall, 68 per cent adequate and 13 per cent surplus.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as 22 per cent poor, 28 per cent fair, 48 per cent good and two per cent excellent.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as 24 (26) per cent poor, 37 (42) per cent fair and 39 (32) per cent good.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- While the recent dry weather has helped producers to wrap up harvest, it has also impacted soil moisture levels for some areas.
- Even though some crops were downgraded due to weather conditions, the overall crop quality in this Region is above the provincial 5-year averages for the top two grades of spring and durum wheat, oats, canola and dry peas, as well as malt barley.
- Regionally, forage reserves are reported as five per cent deficit, 16 per cent shortfall, 68 per cent adequate and 11 per cent surplus, while the rating for feed grain reserves is two per cent deficit, 10 per cent shortfall, 64 per cent adequate and 24 per cent surplus.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as one per cent poor, 60 per cent fair and 39 per cent good.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as 18 (29) per cent poor, 39 (40) per cent fair, 32 (25) per cent good and 11 (six) per cent excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Improved weather over the past two weeks helped producers to combine 98 per cent of the crops (up 24 per cent from two weeks ago). A lot of producers in the Region have to dry out their crops due to high moisture levels. The quality for harvested crops in this Region is above the provincial 5-year averages for barley number one and the top two grades of spring wheat, canola and dry peas, while it is below the 5-year averages for malt and the top two grades of oats.
- Regionally, forage reserves are reported as three per cent shortfall, 81 per cent adequate and 16 per cent surplus, while the rating for feed grain reserves is five per cent shortfall, 76 per cent adequate and 19 per cent surplus.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as four per cent fair and 96 per cent good.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as six (six) per cent fair, 34 (25) per cent good and 59 (68) per cent excellent, with one (one) per cent excessive.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Late and wet seeding conditions in spring combined with cool, damp weather this fall delayed harvest for producers. However, they were able to make good harvest progress over the past two weeks, with about 97 per cent of crops in the bin (up 38 per cent from two weeks ago). Most of the crops have come off tough or damp and will need to be dried.
- The quality for harvested crops is below the provincial 5-year averages, excepting the top two grades of canola and dry peas number 2 which is higher.
- Forage reserves are reported as three per cent shortfall, 61 per cent adequate and 36 per cent surplus, while the rating for feed grain reserves is eight per cent shortfall, 75 per cent adequate and 17 per cent surplus.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as four (four) per cent fair, 25 (68) per cent good and 68 (28) per cent excellent, with three (zero) per cent excessive.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Wet conditions from rain and snowfall over past two weeks did not permit harvest progress to advance more than nine per cent. Nonetheless, about 95 per cent of crops are now in the bin, three per cent in swath and almost two per cent still standing.
- The quality for harvested crops in this Region is above their provincial 5-year averages, with the exception of dry peas number 1, which is lower.
- Forage reserves are reported as two per cent deficit, three per cent shortfall, 61 per cent adequate and 34 per cent surplus, while the rating for feed grain reserves is one per cent deficit, two per cent shortfall, 63 per cent adequate and 34 per cent surplus.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as four (five) per cent poor, 15 (19) per cent fair, 45 (41) per cent good and 28 (27) per cent excellent, with eight (eight) per cent excessive.
Ashan Shooshtarian, Crop Statistician
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Economics and Competitiveness Branch
Statistics and Data Development Section
E-mail:ashan.shooshtarian@gov.ab.ca
Phone:780-422-2887
November 3, 2017
Note to Users: The contents of this document may not be used or reproduced without properly accrediting Alberta Agriculture and Forestry, Economics and Competitiveness Branch, Statistics and Data Development Section
The 2017 Alberta crop reporting series is available on the Internet at: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/sdd4191
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