Alberta's southern farmers are three quarters of the way through harvest, according to the province's latest crop report.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Following a period of extreme hot and dry weather throughout August, temperatures and precipitation levels have largely returned to seasonal averages just in time for harvest.
Harvest is proceeding largely as usual throughout much of Alberta, with all regions ahead of the five-year and 10-year averages. As of Sept. 12, 58.8 per cent of crops were combined throughout the province, compared to the five-year average of 36.2 per cent and 10-year average of 35.5 per cent. And just below last-year’s average of 60.5 per cent.
Producers in the south region are leading the charge with nearly 75 per cent of all crops combined and eight per cent swathed. Following suit are producers in the central region with 61.8 per cent of crops combined and approximately 16 per cent swathed. Harvest is slowest in the province’s northwest region, which sits at approximately 38 per cent of crops combined, 25 per cent swathed and 37 per cent still standing.
While harvest progress varies between crop types, dry peas are by far the most advanced in harvest at 95.5 per cent combined provincially. In the south region, dry pea harvest is virtually complete, while oat, barley and spring wheat harvests near completion at 92.9 per cent, 85.1 per cent and 81.7 per cent respectively.
Canola harvest continues to lag with only 31 per cent combined across the province and 45.7 per cent combined in the south region. Experts cite low precipitation levels during seeding, pests and scattered frost as causes, though numbers are not out of line with year-over-year trends.
Harvest also continues in southwestern Saskatchewan, where 93 per cent of all crops were combined as of Sept. 12.
While central and northern regions of Alberta are sitting at lower-than-average precipitation, the south is “near normal” and experts feel ample time remains for the restoration of soil moisture and surface water reserves ahead of the 2023 growing season.
Recent rainfall has slowed harvest for some southern producers, however showers – which are predicted to continue intermittently over the next few weeks – may be of long-term benefit if combined with warm temperatures, experts in Alberta and Saskatchewan say.
Pasture and hay growth remains fair, however some producers are expressing concern over anticipated winter feed supply following shortages last year.
