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Crop Conditions as of September 11, 2018 (Abbreviated Report)
Favourable weather conditions at the beginning of the past week led to harvest progress of about 11 per cent in Alberta, before the cold artic weather brought a mix of rain and snow later in the week, which halted harvest. Provincially, about 28 per cent of crops have now been harvested, up 11 per cent from last week, while 23 per cent are in the swath, compared to 14 per cent a week ago. About 49 per cent of crops remain standing, down 20 per cent from last week (see Table 1). Provincially, nearly 80 per cent of dry peas, 37 per cent of barley, 29 per cent of spring wheat, 13 per cent of canola and nine per cent of oats are in the bin. Also, 45 per cent of canola, 12 per cent of barley, 10 per cent of oats and nine per cent of spring wheat have been swathed.
When compared to the 5-year average (2013-2017), harvest progress has advanced about six per cent in the Southern Region and three per cent in the Central Region, due to the dry conditions in the Southern Region and most areas of the Central Region. However, harvest progress is behind about 12 and seven per cent respectively, in the North East and North West Regions, due to a wet season (see the Map). In these two regions, crops are almost ready for harvest, but wet conditions as a result of recent precipitation have delayed harvest. The Peace Region has experienced a wet season so far compared to normal, with cool, damp conditions for the last couple of weeks. The region also had less sunshine than normal over the month of August, due to smoke from the BC wildfires. Consequently, harvest progress in the Peace Region is about 26 per cent behind the 5-year average.
Both surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings across the province have improved in all regions, due to recent precipitation. Surface soil moisture (sub-surface soil moisture rating are in brackets) is now rated as 18 (22) per cent poor, 31 (33) per cent fair, 41 (34) per cent good and 9 (10) per cent excellent, with one (one) per cent excessive. Pasture conditions (tame hay conditions are in brackets) are rated as 35 (34) per cent poor, 38 (37) per cent fair, 25 (27) per cent good and two (two) per cent excellent (see Table 2).
REGIONAL ASSESSMENTS:
The 2018 Alberta Crop Report Series continues to provide summaries for the following five regions:
Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Showers slowed harvest progress in some counties, while in others, there was good harvest progress. When compared to the 5-year averages overall, harvest progress in the region is ahead, although canola harvest is behind the other crops. Canola stages are quite varied from very green to some ripe pods.
- Regionally, 25 per cent of crops are still standing, 11 per cent swathed and 64 per cent combined (up six per cent from the 5-year average of 58 per cent). However, only 42 per cent of canola are in the bin (compared to the 5-year average of 49 per cent), with another 21 per cent swathed. About 93 per cent of dry peas, 84 per cent of barley, 73 per cent of oats and 71 per cent of spring wheat are either in swath or the bin.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil ratings in the brackets) are rated as 29 (36) per cent poor, 48 (47) per cent fair and 23 (17) per cent good.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- A few warm days earlier in the past week allowed producers to make some good harvest progress, until showers and cool weather later in the week hampered harvesting operations. However, moisture was welcomed by livestock producers, as it benefited hay fields and pastures. There are some reports of the baling of annual crops and swath grazing in the region.
- Regionally, 41 per cent of crops are still standing, 27 per cent swathed and 32 per cent combined (up three per cent from the 5-year average of 29 per cent). About 21 per cent of canola are in the bin (compared to the 5-year average of 24 per cent), with another 43 per cent swathed. About 98 per cent of dry peas, 53 per cent of spring wheat, 51 per cent of barley and 33 per cent of oats are either in swath or the bin.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil ratings in the brackets) are rated as 25 (38) per cent poor, 41 (39) per cent fair and 34 (23) per cent good.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Cool, wet weather conditions delayed harvest and for some areas brought it to a standstill, which could negatively impact grain quality. Also, some frost damage was reported for green canola crops in some areas.
- In the North East Region, 60 per cent of crops are still standing, 27 per cent swathed and 13 per cent combined (down 12 per cent from the 5-year average of 25 per cent). About four per cent of canola are in the bin (compared to the 5-year average of 16 per cent), with another 52 per cent swathed. About 84 per cent of dry peas, 22 per cent of spring wheat and 20 per cent of barley and oats are either in swath or the bin.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil ratings in the brackets) are rated as 6 (4) per cent poor, 20 (18) per cent fair, 55 (56) per cent good and 19 (22) per cent excellent.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Harvest advanced about five per cent from a week ago, but the recent rainfall slowed progress or in some areas halted harvest altogether. Some frost damage on green canola was reported in some areas in the region.
- Overall, 66 per cent of crops are still standing, 25 per cent swathed and nine per cent combined (down seven per cent from the 5-year average of 16 per cent). Only about one per cent of canola are in the bin (compared to the 5-year average of seven per cent), with another 53 per cent swathed. About 84 per cent of dry peas, 14 per cent of spring wheat, 13 per cent of barley and four per cent of oats are either in swath or the bin.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil ratings in the brackets) are rated as 22 (18) per cent poor, 33 (43) per cent fair, 34 (26) per cent good and 11 (13) per cent excellent.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Cool, wet weather conditions coupled with recent rainfall, ranging from one to three inches, have stalled harvest operations in the region, which was already behind normal progress.
- Regionally, 68 per cent of crops are still standing, 27 per cent swathed and five per cent combined (down 26 per cent from the 5-year average of 31 per cent). There is not any canola in the bin as yet (compared to the 5-year average of 18 per cent), with 54 per cent swathed and 46 per cent still standing. About 30 per cent of dry peas, seven per cent of barley, five per cent of spring wheat and one per cent of oats are either in swath or the bin.
- Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface soil ratings in the brackets) are rated as 0 (1) per cent poor, 0 (10) per cent fair, 68 (60) per cent good, 23 (23) per cent excellent and 9 (6) per cent excessive.
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Ashan Shooshtarian, Crop Statistician
Economics and Competitiveness Branch
Statistics and Data Development Section
E-mail: ashan.shooshtarian@gov.ab.ca
Phone: 780-422-2887
September 14, 2018
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 2018 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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