Crop Conditions as of September 13, 2016 (Abbreviated Report)

 
 
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Crop Conditions as of September 13, 2016 (Abbreviated Report)

Through early September, conditions have generally been cool and moderately wet. Over the past week, almost all Regions in the province have experienced hail. Additionally, a frost occurred between September 12 and 13 in most fields of the South, Central, North West and Peace Regions (See map). The potential damage of hail or frost has not yet been determined. The hot and sunny weather in the forecast for the upcoming week is welcome news for producers.

Harvest operations have been delayed due to the wet and cool weather conditions. Provincially, about 20 per cent of crops have been harvested (up five per cent from last week), 29 per cent are in the swath (up nine per cent from a week ago) and 51 per cent remain standing (down 14 per cent from last week). It seems that producers are cautious about laying their crops in damp soils and are taking the risk of yield loss due to head breakage under windy conditions as the crops continue to dry standing. Across the province, nearly 85 per cent of dry peas, 67 per cent of canola, 39 per cent of barley, 31 per cent of spring wheat and 15 per cent of oats are either harvested or swathed. When compared to the 5-year average (2011-2015), harvest progress is behind in all Regions and down about 17 per cent provincially.

Surface and sub-surface soil moisture ratings (5-year averages in brackets) across the province slightly improved to 86 (58) and 80 (63) per cent good to excellent, respectively with three (one) and one (less than one) per cent excessive. Pasture conditions are rated as three (11) per cent poor, 26 (34) per cent fair, 60 (44) per cent good and 11 (11) per cent excellent. Tame hay conditions have similar ratings and are reported as three (13) per cent poor, 24 (36) per cent fair, 61 (41) per cent good and 12 (10) per cent excellent.



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)

  • Harvest is progressing with intermittent delays due to rain showers and heavy dew. Crop quality could be an issue due to the light frost and hail in some fields over the past week. Corn silaging has started.
  • Regionally, 32 per cent of crops are still standing (down 16 per cent from last week), 20 per cent swathed (up five per cent from a week ago) and 48 per cent combined (up 11 per cent from last week). About 97 per cent of dry peas, 74 per cent of canola, 67 per cent of barley, 57 per cent of spring wheat and 48 per cent of oats are in swath or bin.
  • Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions (5-year averages in brackets) are rated, respectively as 81 (42) and 78 (49) per cent good to excellent, with less than one (less than one) per cent excessive for both
  • Pasture and tame hay growth conditions are rated as 60 (46) and 64 (44) per cent good to excellent, respectively.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
  • Unsettled weather during the past week slowed down harvest progress and affecting the grade of crops in some fields. However, yields are reported above normal. Producers have experienced frost last Monday and the potential frost damage is still to be determined. Also, hail was reported in some areas.
  • The Central Region has 12 per cent of crops harvested (up five per cent from last week), 24 per cent in swath (up 11 per cent from a week ago) and 64 per cent still standing (down 16 per cent from last week). About 84 per cent of dry peas, 52 per cent of canola, 29 per cent of barley, 20 per cent of spring wheat and nine per cent of oats are either harvested or swathed.
  • Both surface and sub-surface moisture conditions improved from last week and are rated as 82 (63) and 76 (71) per cent good to excellent, respectively, with about three (two) per cent excessive.
  • Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 77 (62) per cent and 72 (60) per cent as good to excellent, respectively.
Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
  • Rain and cold weather hampered harvest operations this week. Some producers will straight cut their crops. Hail was reported in some fields.
  • In the North East Region, 13 per cent of crops have been harvested (up 5 per cent from last week), with 37 per cent in the swath (up 11 per cent from a week ago) and 50 per cent still standing (down 16 per cent from last week). About 80 per cent of dry peas, 75 per cent of canola, 35 per cent of barley, 27 per cent of spring wheat and 26 per cent of oats are either in swath or in the bin.
  • Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions are reported as 97 (71) and 83 (73) per cent good to excellent, respectively, with three (one) and two (less than one) per cent excessive.
  • Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 83 (59) and 85 (52) per cent good to excellent, respectively.
Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
  • Harvest progress has not improved much since last week, due to the wet and cold weather. A frost and a light hail are reported for some counties in the Region.
  • Overall, 65 per cent of crops are still standing (down 16 per cent from last week), 29 per cent in swath (up 14 per cent from a week ago) and six per cent harvested (up two per cent from a week ago). Nearly 62 per cent of canola, 55 per cent of dry peas, 13 per cent of barley, eight per cent of spring wheat and three per cent of oats have been either combined or swathed.
  • Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions are rated as 97 (66) and 88 (57) per cent good to excellent, respectively, with three (less than one) per cent excessive surface soil moisture.
  • Pasture and tame hay conditions are rated as 56 (45) per cent and 71 (39) per cent good to excellent, respectively.
Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)
  • Harvest operations have been delayed by sporadic rain. Hail has been reported for some fields in the Region. There is the potential for crop quality decline due to wet weather.
  • Regionally, 13 per cent of crops have been combined (up three per cent from last week), 34 per cent in swath (up four per cent from a week ago) and 53 per cent still standing (down seven per cent from last week). About 68 per cent of canola, 65 per cent of dry peas, 20 per cent of spring wheat and 14 per cent of both barley and oats have been either combined or swathed.
  • Surface and sub-surface soil moisture conditions are rated as 73 (55) and 78 (63) per cent good to excellent, respectively, with nine (less than one) per cent excessive only for surface soil moisture.
  • Pasture and tame hay conditions are reported at 74 (63) and 72 (59) per cent good to excellent, respectively.

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

September 16, 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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For more information about the content of this document, contact Ashan Shooshtarian.
This document is maintained by Rita Splawinski.
This information published to the web on September 16, 2016.
Last Reviewed/Revised on October 14, 2016.