Crop Conditions as of November 1, 2016

The preliminary dryland yield index for the province declined slightly again, but still remained 13.5 per cent above the 5-year average (see Table 2). Average yields for potatoes are estimated at 13.2 and 19.1 tons per acre, respectively, on dryland and irrigated fields. Irrigated yields for dry beans and sugar beets are reported at 2,480 pounds per acre and 27.3 tonnes per acre, respectively.

Provincially, crop quality deterioration continues due to the challenging wet harvest season and is below the 5 and 10-year averages for all crops, except malt barley and canola number 1 which are higher, and dry peas which is in line with the averages. About 71 per cent of hard red spring wheat is now graded in the top two grades, down seven per cent from the 5-year average. About 55 per cent of durum wheat has graded number 2 or better, down 22 per cent from the 5-year average. About 22 per cent of barley is eligible for malt (up four per cent from the 5-year average) and 63 per cent is graded as number 1 (down four per cent from the 5-year average). About 62 per cent of oats is graded in the top two grades, down 16 per cent from the 5-year average. Almost 93 per cent of harvested canola is in the top two grades (in line with the 5-year average), with 83 per cent graded as number 1 (up two per cent from the 5-year average).



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)

• Windy, dry weather in most areas in the South Region has enabled farmers to just about wrap up their harvest. Silage corn is almost complete and grain corn harvest is underway. Fusarium and Ergot have caused some quality issues for spring and durum wheat.
• About 96 per cent of crops are in the bin, two per cent in swath and two per cent still standing. The quality for malt barley, the top two grades of spring wheat, oats and dry peas are above the provincial 5-year average.
• About 96 per cent of potatoes, 99 per cent of dry beans and 98 per cent of sugar beets have now been harvested.
• Fall seeded crops are reported as 14 per cent poor to fair, 57 per cent good and 29 per cent excellent.
• Pastures conditions are rated as 38 per cent poor to fair, 53 per cent good and nine per cent excellent.
• Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as 22 (26) per cent poor to fair, 59 (56) per cent good and 19 (18) per cent excellent.

• While wet and cool weather in some areas of the Region continued to delay harvest, producers in other areas have had some progress. Fusarium and Ergot have been issues in some cereal fields.
• There are still about 30 per cent of crops left in the field, 17 per cent in swath and 13 per cent standing. Crop quality is below the provincial 5-year averages for the top two grades of spring and durum wheat, as well as barley and canola number 1. For the other crops, the quality is above the provincial 5-year average.
• Fall seeded crops are reported as 17 per cent poor to fair, 78 per cent good and five per cent excellent.
• Pasture conditions are rated as 27 per cent poor to fair, 63 per cent good and 10 per cent excellent.
• Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as six (16) per cent poor to fair, 54 (57) per cent good, 34 (23) per cent excellent, with six (four) per cent excessive.

• Another week of wet and cool weather resulted in either very little harvest progress in some areas or no harvesting in other areas.
• In this Region, about 32 per cent of the crops are still in the field, 11 per cent standing and 21 per cent in swath. The quality for harvested crops in the Region is below the provincial 5-year averages, except for barley and canola number 1 which are higher.
• Fall seeded crops are reported as 88 per cent good and 12 per cent excellent.
• Pasture conditions are rated as 67 per cent poor to fair, 24 per cent good and nine per cent excellent.
• Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as 12 (34) per cent good, 63 (65) per cent excellent, with 25 (one) per cent excessive.

• Harvest was hampered by wet conditions as well as excessive moisture. Consequently, there wasn’t any harvest progress from a week ago. There are still 24 per cent of crops in swath and 21 per cent standing.
• The quality for all harvested crops is below the provincial 5-year averages, excepting barley number 1 which is higher.
• Pasture conditions are rated as 79 per cent poor to fair and 21 per cent good.
• Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as zero (79) per cent good, 47 (21) per cent excellent and 53 (zero) per cent excessive.

• Rain and or snow over the past week halted harvesting operations, with no progress reported from last week. About 10 per cent of the crops in this Region is still standing and 11 per cent in swath.
• The quality for harvested crops in the Region is below the provincial 5-year averages, except for malt barley and canola number 1, which are higher.
• Fall seeded crops are reported as 19 per cent fair, 53 per cent good and 28 per cent excellent.
• Pasture conditions are rated as 26 per cent fair, 54 per cent good and 20 per cent excellent.
• Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as 10 (13) per cent poor to fair, 32 (33) per cent good, 32 (36) per cent excellent, with 26 (18) per cent excessive.