| | This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services Corporation.
The August 27, 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
Harvest is underway in all regions, principally on winter cereals and field peas. It is estimated that 10% of crops have been swathed with a further 3% harvested. For most crops, yield estimates have increased by 3-4 bushels/acre from July 30th report with the exception of field peas which is up 1 bu/acre. Yield estimates remain below 80% of the last 5 year average. Light frost was reported in the western portion of central Alberta and across the central portion of the Peace. The province needs another 2 weeks of frost free weather to get this crop passed the frost danger.
StatsCan released their July 31 crop yield estimates. In many cases, the estimates approach the 5 year average yield which was derived from relatively average years. The StatsCan estimates do not appear to reflect the effects of the difficult growing conditions experienced this year throughout Alberta as shown by the differences between the two sets of yield estimates. For more information on StatsCan's production estimates for 2009 crops, plese visit the following website: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/22-002-x/22-002-x2009005-eng.pdf.
Sub soil moisture ratings have improved slightly to 53% poor/ 28% fair/ 17% good/ 2% excellent due to precipitation received in the north central areas principally.
66% of the 2nd cut irrigated hay and 19% of the 2nd cut dryland hay has been baled. Pasture ratings have improved slightly to 52% poor/ 38% fair/ 10% good but tame hay ratings have declined to 59% poor/ 31% fair/ 10% good.
Southern Alberta
Harvest this year is 7-14 days later than average due to the delayed maturity with only 15% swathed and 6% harvested. Since the July 30th report, estimated yields have increased 1-2 bu/acre with the exception of field peas which has declined by 2 bushels. Crop condition ratings are unchanged to slightly improved. Interestingly, early seeded crops are not performing as well this year, as the later seeded crops were able to take better advantage of the precipitation in late June/early July.
Sub soil moisture ratings have declined to 13% poor/ 33% fair/ 41% good/ 13% excellent. Surface moisture ratings at 65% good/excellent should be beneficial for the seeding of fall crops this year.
2nd cut hay is 59% completed for dryland and 66% completed for irrigated. Irrigated producers are optimistic they can get a 3rd cut. Pasture and tame hay ratings have declined significantly to 47% poor/ 41% fair/ 12% good for pastures and 56% poor/ 31% fair/ 13% good for tame hay.
Central Alberta
Harvest is underway with 10% swathed and 2% harvested. Yield estimates have improved by 2-3 bu/ acre from July 30th report for most crops and stand in the high 60% range of the last 5 year average. A light frost was reported on August 24 in western areas of the region but potential damage is expected to be light. Crop condition ratings have improved with much of the improvement being from poor to fair. Producers in many areas are facing fields with multiple crop stages and canola which is still flowering which may require desiccation.
Precipitation in the central and eastern areas has improved sub soil moisture ratings to 30% poor/ 38% fair/ 32% good. 2nd cut dryland hay harvest is 43% complete. Pasture ratings have improved significantly as a result of the precipitation to 33% poor/ 50% fair/ 16% good/ 1% excellent. Tame hay ratings have declined slightly to 49% poor/ 34% fair/ 16% good/ 1% excellent.
North East Alberta
A small amount of harvest has begun with 3% swathed and 1% harvested, principally winter cereals and field peas. Desiccation is being used by some producers due to weed and second crop growth. Current yield estimates are up 2-4 bu from July 30th report for most crops with barley up 8 bushels and oats up 13 bu. Crop condition ratings have improved by 5-10 points from the poor/fair categories to the good category though the good rating remains below 20% of the total. Grasshoppers continue to be an economic problem in some parts of the region.
Sub soil moisture ratings have improved marginally due to precipitation in the region to 68% poor/ 27% fair/ 5% good. Hay and pasture ratings have also improved to 58% poor/ 31% fair/ 11% good for pastures and 64% poor/ 29% fair/ 7% good for tame hay. The harvest of 2nd cut hay is yet to start.
North West Alberta
A small amount of harvesting is underway with 6% swathed and 1% harvested. Compared to the July 30th report, yield estimates have increased by 3-6 bushels/acre but remain in the mid 60% to mid 70% range of the 5 year average. Crop condition ratings have improved by 5-10 points from the poor/fair categories to the good category though the good comprises less than 15% of the total. Grasshoppers are an economic problem in 30% of the region.
The region received light precipitation which maintained sub soil moisture levels at 80% poor/20% fair. The 2nd cut dryland hay crop is 5% completed. Pasture ratings were unchanged at 61% poor/ 38% fair/ 1% good while the tame hay rating declined to 71% poor/ 28% fair/ 1% good.
Peace River
Harvest is estimated at 6% swathed, principally canola, and 3% combined, barley and field peas. Crop yield estimates have improved by 2-4 bushels/acre as compared to the July 30th report and fall in the 80 - 90% of the 5 year average. Crop condition ratings have declined with a 3 point drop in the good/excellent categories. Spring cereals are now rated at 30% good, with canola and field peas rated at 40% good. Frost was reported across the central portion of the region. The County of Clear Hills in the NW portion of the region received severe damage while the MD’s of Fairview, Northern Lights, Smoky River and Big Lakes are reporting light frost with some localized moderate frost damage. Grasshoppers and lygus bugs are at economic damage levels in 10% of the region
Sub soil moisture ratings are unchanged at 80% poor/ 18% fair/ 2% good. Hay and pasture ratings have declined with the change occurring in the fair to poor category. Pastures are rated at 64% poor/ 27% fair/ 9% good. Hay is rated 57% poor/ 31% fair/ 12% good. No 2nd cut hay crop is anticipated to be harvested this year.
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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