Crop Conditions as of August 9, 2016

Harvest operations have begun across the province. Approximately one per cent of crops in the province have been combined and another one per cent of them are swathed. About 20 per cent of winter wheat and 11 per cent of fall rye are already in bin, with 16 per cent of winter wheat and 24 per cent of fall rye in the swath. Preliminary dryland yield remained relatively the same compared to two weeks ago. Provincially, the dryland yield (5-year averages are in brackets) are estimated at 50.8 (46.0) bushels per acre for spring wheat, 71.3 (64.8) bushels per acre for barley, 83.9 (76.6) bushels per acre for oats, 42.7 (37.7) bushels per acre for canola and 44.2 (42.7) bushels per acre for dry peas (Table 2).

First cut dryland hay is 85 (85) per cent complete across the province. Preliminary average provincial yield on dryland is estimated at 1.6 (1.8) tons per acre. Quality of the first cut is rated at 55 (64) per cent good to excellent. Irrigated haying operations are nearly complete at 98 (99) per cent, with yield at 2.1 (2.5) tons per acre and quality rated as 56 (73) per cent good to excellent. Second cut haying operations are underway, with 10 per cent of dryland and 15 per cent of irrigated land complete. The estimated yield for second cut hay is reported 1.1 tons per acre for dryland and 2.1 tons per acre for irrigated lands with quality rated at 73 per cent good to excellent in dryland and 68 per cent in irrigated lands.



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REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2016 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:

Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)

• Wet conditions have slowed down crop maturation, as well as haying operations in the Region. Most of spring seeded cereals are finishing dough development stage, while 39 per cent of winter wheat and 46 per cent of fall rye are either combined or swathed.
• Harvest has started for most crops with four per cent in the bin. Swathing is under way at four per cent of barley, three per cent of canola and about one per cent of spring wheat, durum wheat and oats.
• First cut haying operations for both dryland and irrigated land are virtually done, with 67 (77) per cent and 70 (82) per cent rated as good to excellent quality, respectively. Preliminary average yield on dryland is estimated at 1.0 (1.9) ton per acre and 2.1 (2.6) tons per acre on irrigated. Second cut haying operations are underway, with six per cent of dryland and 27 per cent of irrigated land complete.
• Pasture and tame hay growth conditions improved from a week ago by eight per cent and are now reported as 57 (59) and 53 (60) per cent good to excellent, respectively.

• With recent rainfalls, the majority of spring seeded cereals and oilseeds are filling in nicely, while pulses particularly lentils seem to be deteriorating from the moisture. Warm sunny weather is needed for the Region.
• About six per cent of winter wheat and nine per cent of rye are combined or in the swath. Spring seeded cereals are mostly in the dough development stage. Some producers are silaging and baling crops for feed as well.
• First cut haying operations are complete at 75 (82) per cent of dryland and 95 (98) per cent of irrigated land. Average yield on dryland is estimated at 1.5 (2.0) tons per acre, while irrigated is 2.2 (2.5) tons per acre. Quality is poor due to wet conditions and rated at 48 (66) per cent good to excellent for dryland hay and 40 (64) per cent for irrigated.
• Both pasture and tame hay growth conditions declined by less than one per cent from a week ago and are now reported as 78 (66) per cent and 76 (66) per cent good to excellent, respectively.

• All crops are filling with some fields starting to ripen. Most spring seeded cereals are in the dough development stage. Some crops have lodged especially cereals (e.g. barley) due to rainfalls and peas due to disease.
• Haying and baling progress are slow due to showers with relatively low quality. First cut haying operations are 79 (75) per cent complete on dryland. Average yield is estimated at 2.1 (1.6) tons per acre for dryland hay with quality rated at 56 (56) per cent good to excellent.
• Pasture and tame hay conditions did not change from the previous week and are rated at 99 (69) and 99 (68) per cent good to excellent, respectively.

• Most of cereals are in the dough development stage and close to ripening, while peas are nearing the harvest stage. Because of wet field conditions, a small amount of silage has been cut and haying is slow. The lodging issue has become more prevalent due to wet and windy weather conditions.
• First cut hay is 83 (84) per cent complete on dryland, while the second cut haying has started. Average yield for the first cut is estimated at 2.5 (1.9) ton per acre, with quality rated at 34 (52) per cent good to excellent.
• Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 82 (65) and 85 (64) per cent good to excellent, respectively.

• Rainfalls and light hail continued over the past week in most parts of the Region. However crops have advanced over past couple of weeks.
• Desiccating of peas and cereals is under way, while it is challenging in some areas due to moldy field conditions. About two per cent of peas and less than one per cent of spring wheat and canola have been combined or swathed.
• First cut haying operations are 81 (84) per cent complete on dryland with the average yield estimated at 1.5 (1.4) tons per acre. Quality is rated at 60 (71) per cent good to excellent.
• Pasture and tame conditions are reported as 81 (68) and 79 (68) per cent good to excellent, respectively.