Major crops throughout the province continue to near completion, according to the latest Alberta Crop Report.
The abbreviated report, which was released on Friday, shows harvest completion of major crops across Alberta increased from 76 to 88 per cent in the past week.
As of Sept. 27, 85.5 per cent of all major crops have been combined in the central region.
Dry peas are 100 per cent harvested and spring cereals from 92 to 97 per cent complete in central Alberta, while Canola is 64 per cent combined and 23 per cent in the swath.
Provincially, spring wheat, barley and dry peas are nearing completion at 95, 95 and 99 per cent harvested, respectively. Oats, at 86 per cent harvested, and canola, at 75 per cent harvested, are the major crops with significant acreage left still standing or in the swath.
Over the past week, combining of canola across the province has increased from 54 per cent completion to now 75 per cent, with an additional 14 per cent swathed. Only seven per cent of major crops in Alberta are now left standing, which is much lower than the 24 per cent five-year average. Many producers across the province have or will finish their harvest season earlier than long-term normal.
With the exception of Alberta’s Peace region, the province was well below historical normal for September precipitation. Most regions, including central Alberta, are reporting continued continued decreases to surface soil moisture.
Across the province, 31 per cent of farmland is reported as poor surface soil moisture, more than double the 10-year average of 14 per cent. Only one percent is reported as excellent surface soil moisture and there is no reported excessive moisture.
In central Alberta, pastures and fall-seeded crops are reported stressed from lack of moisture. Seventy per cent of fall-seeded crops are reported as poor or fair. Surface soil moisture conditions (sub-surface shown in brackets) are rated as 23 (28) per cent poor, 45 (43) per cent fair, 32 (28) per cent good and zero (zero) per cent excellent.
Pastures are being reported at below historical normal growing conditions and 31 per cent of Alberta pasture land is reported as poor. Currently only 25 per cent of Alberta’s pasture land is reported as good or excellent, well below the 10- year average of 44 per cent.
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