| | This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The September 24, 2009 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.
Prepared by:
James Wright
Project Manager
Actuarial & Program Readiness
AFSC, Lacombe
Telephone: (403)782-8336
Provincial
Warm, dry weather across the entire province has allowed harvest to progress virtually unimpeded. The lack of a fall killing frost in most areas has provided late maturing crops with time to ripen without incurring significant yield or quality damage. The pace of harvest has been slowed this year as more fields need to be swathed due to late heavy weed growth and/or multiple crop staging.
Yields have been increasing with time as more information becomes available but should end up to be 15 – 20% below the average of the last 5 years. Quality should be above average this year based on the excellent harvest conditions. Currently, less than 5% of the hard red spring wheat is grading below 3CW, less than 10% of durum wheat is grading below 2CW, 85% of barley is grading 1CW or Select, less than 5% of the oats are grading below 2CW, and only 15% of the field peas are grading feed quality of 3Can or lower. The exception is canola with less than 80% of the crop expected to grade 1Canada due principally to green seed content.
As a result of the warm, dry weather, provincial soil moisture ratings have declined significantly to 64% poor/ 26% fair/ 9% good/ 1% excellent. This represents an 8% increase to the poor rating over the past 2 week period.
Southern Alberta
Harvest is progressing well though some isolated showers did slow progress for a few days. In the east and central areas, harvest is nearing completion at 85% combined. The western foothills area is reporting 60% complete. For most crops, yields will be average to slightly below the average of the last 5 years with the exception of winter wheat which will be down 15 – 20%.
Soil moisture is a concern to producers wishing to seed fall crops. Many are indicating they may not seed unless precipitation is received. Subsoil moisture is rated 37% poor/ 35% fair/ 23% good/ 5% excellent showing a 12% increase in the poor rating over the past 2 weeks. Dryland hay quality will average fair to good and the quality of irrigated hay as good to excellent.
Central Alberta
Harvest progress is slightly more advanced in the eastern portions of the region but generally quite similar across the region. Yield indications for the major crops show production will be down 20 – 25% from the average yield of the past 5 years. Subsoil moisture ratings have declined significantly over the past 2 weeks to 50% poor/ 37% fair/ 13% good, a 21% increase in the poor rating. Dryland hay quality is rated as fair.
North East Alberta
Harvest progress is very similar across the region. Several light frosts were reported in the past 2 weeks. Yields for the region are anticipated to be down 20% from the average of the last 5 years. Dryland hay quality is rated as fair to good. Subsoil moisture ratings have declined to 79% poor/ 15% fair/ 5% good/ 1% excellent. The poor rating has increased by 10% over the past 2 weeks.
North West Alberta
As a result of the excellent harvest weather, harvest progress is consistent across the region. Yields for the region are expected to be down 20% from the 5 year average due to the difficult growing conditions experienced this year. Dryland hay quality is rated as fair to good. Subsoil moisture ratings are unchanged from September 10 at 80% poor/ 20% fair.
Peace River Region
Harvest got off to a slow start in early September due to showery weather and late maturity. Conditions have improved and harvest is progressing quickly with close to half the crops combined. Yields are expected to be down 15% from the 5 year average. Dryland hay quality is rated fair to good. Subsoil moisture ratings are unchanged from 2 weeks ago at 79% poor/ 17% fair/ 4% good.
Prepared by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation in cooperation with Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. For more information, please contact the writer, James Wright. |
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