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This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The September 23, 2014 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website
Alberta Crop Conditions as of September 30, 2014
Abbreviated Report
Producers were able to make good harvest progress this past week despite having only a few good days early in the week before being stopped by wet weather in all areas of the province. Harvest is estimated to be 72% completed provincially, up from 52% completed last week. 76% of the spring wheat, 68% of the barley, 68% of the canola and 58% of the oats have been combined. Field pea harvest is virtually completed with 99.2% in the bin.
Harvest is most advanced in the South and Peace Regions with over 80% harvested (See Table #1). The Central Region is the area of the province with the greatest amount of work yet to be completed with only 58% done. Within the Central Region, the west portion is only 35% completed while the central and east portions are 65% and 75% harvested respectively.
Soil moisture ratings have improved in all regions which will benefit winter cereals currently being seeded. Surface soil moisture ratings improved to 74% of the province being rated good or excellent from 65% last week. Sub soil moisture ratings increased to 68% rated good or excellent from 63% last week.
Hay and pastures continue to perform very well due to the good moisture as we proceed late into the growing season. 64% of pastures and 44% of tame hay in the province is rated in good or excellent condition which bodes well for late fall grazing and for a good start to the growing season in the spring of 2015.
Regional Assessments:
The 2014 Alberta Crop Report Series provides summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Producers making good progress on harvest with 84% combined, up from 62% last week.
- Harvest delayed by light rain on the weekend.
- Sugar beet harvest scheduled to start October 1st.
- Surface soil moisture ratings improved to 69% good or excellent from 62% last week.
- Sub soil moisture ratings improved to 71% good or excellent from 66%.
- 75% of pastures and 58% of tame hay rated good or excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Producers made good progress on harvest despite frequent showers with 58% combined, up from 39% last week.
- Need an extended period of dry weather on west side of region as only 35% harvested.
- Surface soil moisture ratings improved to 73% good or excellent from 68% last week.
- Sub soil moisture ratings improved to 77% good or excellent from 69%.
- 90% of pastures and 86% of tame hay rated good or excellent.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Harvest halted by 25-35 mm of rain this past weekend with 71% combined, up from 50% last week.
- Surface soil moisture ratings improved to 82% good or excellent from 80% last week.
- Sub soil moisture ratings improved to 79% good or excellent from 76%.
- 93% of pastures and 47% of tame hay rated good or excellent.
Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Harvest delayed by wet weather in amounts from showers to 35 mm of rain this past weekend with 62% combined, up from 38% last week.
- Surface soil moisture ratings improved to 75% good or excellent from 74% last week.
- Sub soil moisture ratings unchanged at 40% good or excellent.
- 100% of pastures rated fair and 80% of tame hay rated fair or good.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Harvest in south and central areas shut down by 25-50 mm of rain with 83% of the region completed, up from 71% last week.
- With harvest well progressed, the moisture was gratefully received since it was badly needed.
- Harvest is nearing completion in the north portion of the region with 90-95% combined, 80-85% is completed in the central portion while harvest is 70% complete in the south portion.
- Surface soil moisture ratings improved substantially to 50% good or excellent from 29% last week.
- Sub soil moisture ratings improved to 46% good or excellent from 39% last week.
- 85% of pastures and 80% of tame hay rated fair or good.
Agriculture Financial Services Corporation
James Wright, Risk Analyst
Actuarial, Analytics & Forecasting Unit
Email: james.wright@afsc.ca
Lacombe, Alberta
Telephone: (403)782-8336 |
October 3, 2014
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