Harvest is progressing rapidly in Central Alberta due to continued hot and dry conditions, according to the provincial government’s latest crop report.
An abbreviated Alberta Crop Report released on Friday, which highlights crop conditions as of Aug. 29, states that reports from Central Alberta farmers indicate the majority of the region is “actively harvesting.”
Seventeen per cent of major crops have been combined in the central region, which is 5.1 percentage points higher than the five-year average and 6.4 percentage points higher than the 10-year average.
Provincially, 17.9 of major crops have been combined – the south region sits at 49.5 per cent, the northeast region is 3.6 per cent, northwest region is 3.8 per cent and the Peace region is 6.4 per cent.
Provincial soil moisture ratings have decreased this past week due to ongoing dryness in the central and south regions, while reports noted a growing percentage of the northern regions with excessive moisture ratings.
The percentage of the province with surface moisture (sub-surface in brackets) rated good to excellent is 37 (38) per cent. Regional surface moisture good-to-excellent ratings are currently at seven (seven) per cent in the south, 23 (35) per cent in central, 71 (53) per cent in the northeast, 71 (76) per cent in the northwest, and 69 (74) per cent in the peace.
Good-to-excellent surface soil moisture ratings in the central region decreased by 11 per cent, while sub-surface decreased by two per cent since the last Alberta Crop Report.
Provincial pasture and tame hay growth is largely unchanged in the province from last week. This is due to decreasing ratings in the south, central and northwest regions being offset by improved ratings in the northeast and peace regions.
Provincial pasture growth rated good to excellent is at 27 per cent, which is unchanged from the last report. The percentage of pasture rated good-to-excellent is at six per cent in the south, 29 per cent in central, 48 per cent in the northeast, 44 per cent in the northwest and 52 per cent in the peace.
Provincial tame hay growth rated good-to-excellent is at 35 per cent, a one per cent decrease since the last report. Regional good to excellent percentages for tame hay are four per cent in the south, 33 per cent in central, 42 per cent in the northeast, 46 per cent in the northwest and 52 per cent in the peace.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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