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Crop Conditions as of October 11, 2016 (Abbreviated Report)
Compared to the long term normal (since 1960), most areas in Alberta experienced more snow for this time of the year (see the map) than is typical. Over the past week, harvest has come to a halt due to snow flattening crops and covering swath, followed by cold weather. It will take time for crops to dry up enough to combine. This all contributes to grade losses of both swathed and standing crops.
Generally, harvest progress over the 2016 crop season has been slow due to the wet conditions across the province and is behind both last year and the 5-year average of 2011-2015 (see Table 1). Provincially, about 72 per cent of crops have been harvested (up three per cent from last week), 15 per cent are in the swath (down one per cent from a week ago) and 13 per cent remain standing (down two per cent from last week). About 27 per cent of canola, 16 per cent of oats, 12 per cent of barley and seven per cent of spring wheat have been swathed, while 32 per cent of oats, 19 per cent of spring wheat, 16 per cent of barley, six per cent of canola and almost two per cent of dry peas are still standing.
With the amount of moisture received, fall seeded crops are looking good and their condition is reported at 16 per cent poor to fair and 84 per cent good to excellent. Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) across the province are rated as 11 (18) per cent poor to fair, 47 (54) per cent good, 34 (26) per cent excellent and eight (two) per cent excessive. The high precipitation received resulted in excessive surface soil moisture in the province. Regionally, the excessive surface soil moisture is reported as less than one per cent in the South, 11 per cent in Central, five per cent in the North East, 26 per cent in the North West and 12 per cent in the Peace Region.
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)
- Rain and damp snow over the past week shut down the final push to wrap harvest in this Region. While cereals and oilseeds are basically harvested, swathed crops will take some time to dry given the wet snow.
- Harvest progress is behind both last year and the five-year averages. Regionally, 92 per cent of crops are harvested (up four per cent from a week ago), five per cent swathed (down one per cent from last week) and three per cent still standing (down three per cent from last week).
- About 91 per cent of spring wheat, 94 per cent of barley, and all dry peas are in the bin. For canola, 89 per cent is harvested, eight per cent is in swath and three per cent is still standing.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as one per cent poor, 12 per cent fair, 57 per cent good and 30 per cent excellent.
- Sub-surface soil moisture is rated at 24 per cent poor to fair, 58 per cent good and 18 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Very few acres were harvested during the past week due to the snow, heavy frost and cool wet conditions. There is some possibility of baling crops and grazing the swath.
- Nearly 64 per cent of the crops in this Region are in the bin (up four per cent from a week ago), 18 per cent in the swath (down one per cent from last week) and 18 per cent still standing (down three per cent from a week ago).
- About 64 per cent of spring wheat, 62 per cent of barley and 40 per cent of oats have been combined. For canola, 60 per cent of canola has been harvested, 29 per cent swathed and 11 per cent still standing.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as 33 per cent fair, 57 per cent good and 10 per cent excellent.
- Sub-surface soil moisture is rated at 15 per cent poor to fair, 58 per cent good, 24 per cent excellent and three per cent excessive.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- The entire Region is under a blanket of snow and was unable to make harvest progress of more than four per cent from a week ago. Warm dry weather is needed to resume the harvest.
- About 66 per cent of crops have been harvested (up four per cent from last week), with 20 per cent in swath (down two per cent from a week ago) and 14 per cent still standing (down two per cent from last week).
- There are nearly 24 per cent of spring wheat, 18 per cent of barley and 27 per cent of oats still standing. About 60 per cent is combined, with 35 per cent in swath and five per cent still standing.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as two per cent fair, 84 per cent good and 14 per cent excellent.
- Sub-surface soil moisture is rated at 16 per cent fair, 40 per cent good, 43 per cent excellent and one per cent excessive.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Continued wet weather and snow over the past week has hampered harvest progress. Some areas have had rain after the snow, which has made some fields wetter. Cereals that were intended to be straight cut have been flattened.
- Overall, 21 per cent of crops are still standing (down only one per cent from last week), 24 per cent are in swath (down two per cent from a week ago) and 55 per cent harvested (up three per cent from a week ago).
- About 61 per cent of spring wheat, 54 per cent of barley, 40 per cent of oats and 98 per cent of dry peas have been combined. While 49 per cent of canola has been harvested, 42 per cent is still in swath and nine per cent standing.
- Sub-surface soil moisture is rated at 10 per cent fair, 83 per cent good and seven per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- More snow over the past week has halted harvesting operations.
- Regionally, 79 per cent of crops have been combined (up five per cent from last week), 11 per cent are in swath (down one per cent from a week ago) and 10 per cent are still standing (down four per cent from last week).
- About 77 per cent of spring wheat, 72 per cent of both barley and oats and 91 per cent of dry peas have been combined. While 79 per cent of canola in the Region is harvested, 18 per cent is in swath and three per cent still standing.
- Sub-surface soil moisture is rated at 22 per cent poor to fair, 45 per cent good, 27 per cent excellent and six 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
October 14, 2016
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 2016 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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