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Crop Conditions as of October 30, 2018 - Final Report of 2018
Since mid-October, the warmer than average temperatures have allowed producers across the province to make significant harvest progress. Provincially, as of October 30, 2018, nearly 95 per cent of crops are now in the bin, up 17 per cent from a week ago, with another three per cent of crops in the swath and only two per cent still standing (see Table 1). In recent years, harvest progress was wrapped up by this time of the year, with the exception of 2016 when it was delayed. Compared to 2016, harvest is currently ahead for all regions, with the exception of the Southern Region, where it is almost on par. About 96 per cent of the crops in the Southern, Central and North East Regions, 94 per cent in the Peace and 87 per cent in the North West Region have now been harvested.
The short term provincial dryland yield index is estimated at 95.8 per cent (four per cent below the 5-year average), while the long term index is estimated at 101.7 per cent (two per cent above the 10-yr average). Regionally, compared to their 5-year averages, yields for the Peace Region are above their averages (by 21 per cent), while for the North East and North West Regions these are on par. For the Southern and Central Regions, yields are below average by 26 per cent and three per cent, respectively (see Table 2).
Since the end of August, crop quality has deteriorated due to wet conditions. Provincially, crop quality for all crops are below their 5-year averages, with the exception of malt barley and the top two grades of durum wheat and dry peas, which are above their 5-year averages. About 66 per cent of hard red spring wheat has graded in the top two grades, with 18 per cent graded as feed quality. About 44 per cent of oats has graded number 2 or better. Nearly 23 per cent of barley is eligible for malt and 60 per cent is graded as number 1. Almost 68 per cent of harvested canola is graded as number 1, with 17 per cent graded as number 2. About 81 per cent of durum wheat and 83 per cent of dry peas are graded in the top two grades.
As a result of cool and wet weather conditions in September and the first half of October in most parts of the province, soil moisture reserves are currently close to normal. However, in some parts of the Southern and Peace Regions, there are still pockets where moisture reserves are relatively poor.
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)
- Harvest is 96 per cent complete. About five per cent of sugar beets, four per cent of spring and durum wheat, and three per cent of oats are still standing. For canola, 92 per cent is harvested, four per cent in swath and another four per cent is still standing.
- Some crops were downgraded for quality, due to weather conditions. Even so, the overall crop quality in this Region for malt barley, the top two grades of spring wheat, durum wheat, oats, canola and dry peas are above the provincial 5-year averages. Some frost damage was also reported for dry beans.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as two per cent poor, 32 per cent fair, 59 per cent good and seven per cent excellent.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as 12 (26) per cent poor, 49 (52) per cent fair and 38 (22) per cent good and 1 (zero) per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Harvest is 96 per cent complete. About eight per cent of chickpeas, two per cent of barley and oats and one per cent of spring wheat are still standing. For canola, 95 per cent has been harvested, three per cent swathed and two per cent still standing.
- For all crops, quality is below their provincial short and long term averages, with the exception of malt barley and the top two grades of dry peas which are on par with their averages.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as two per cent poor, 34 per cent fair, 62 per cent good and two per cent excellent.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as 1 (12) per cent poor, 19 (21) per cent fair, 60 (59) per cent good and 19 (8) per cent excellent, with 1 (0) per cent excessive.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
- Harvest is 96 per cent complete. About two per cent of barley and oats and one per cent of spring wheat are still standing. For canola, 94 per cent has been harvested, five per cent swathed and one per cent still standing.
- Crop quality for all crops is below their 5-year averages, except barley Number 1 and the top two grades of dry peas which are above their 5-year averages.
- Fall seeded crops are rated as 10 per cent poor, 50 per cent fair and 40 per cent good.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as 8 (11) per cent fair, 49 (43) per cent good and 42 (45) per cent excellent, with 1 (1) per cent excessive.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
- Harvest for the region continues to progress, but at a slower pace, due to light showers. About 87 per cent of crops are now in the bin, 10 per cent swathed and another three per cent still standing. About six per cent of spring wheat and barley and four per cent of oats are still standing. For canola, 80 per cent has been harvested, 19 per cent swathed and one per cent still standing.
- Crop quality for all cereals is below their 5-year averages, except barley Number 1 which is above average. About 15 per cent of spring wheat is graded as feed quality. Quality for the top two grades of canola and dry peas have been graded on par with their 5-year averages.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as zero (4) per cent poor, 16 (34) per cent fair, 42 (33) per cent good and 35 (29) per cent excellent, with 7 (zero) per cent excessive.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
- Harvest is 94 per cent complete. About five per cent of dry peas, four per cent of oats and three per cent of spring wheat and barley are still standing. For canola, 93 per cent has been harvested, six per cent swathed and one per cent still standing.
- Crop quality for all crops is below their 5-year averages, except barley Number 1 and the top two grades of dry peas which are above their 5-year averages. About 72 per cent of spring wheat is graded as feed quality.
- Surface soil moisture ratings (sub-surface ratings in brackets) are rated as zero (2) per cent poor, zero (7) per cent fair, 66 (60) per cent good and 28 (26) per cent excellent, with 6 (5) 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
November 2, 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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