Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – Combining of major crops in Alberta progressed 23 points during the week ended Sept. 10, reaching 54 per cent, according to the province’s latest weekly crop report. While dry weather helped to advance the harvest, crop yields were not meeting expectations.
The report prepared by Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation said the south region was furthest along with the harvest at 74 per cent complete, followed by the central at 65 per cent, the northeast and northwest at 42 per cent and the Peace at 37 per cent.
Of all crops, dry peas led the way at 97 per cent harvested, with lentils next at 88 per cent, then durum at 72 per cent, barley at 71 per cent and spring wheat at 70 cent. Chickpeas came next at 67 per cent done, mustard at 62 per cent, oats at 42 per cent, canola at 21 per cent, flax at 19 per cent and potatoes at nine per cent.
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The report noted that bushel weights have been coming in lower than expected, due to heat and drought stress hit as the crops were filling. Hail as well was said to have impacted crop yields. On a provincewide basis spring wheat yielded 46 bushels per acre, barley at 60, oats at 68, canola 33 and dry peas at 38.
The second cut of dryland hay produced 0.9 tons per acre provincewide, rating 41 per cent good to excellent. Pasture conditions were 54 per cent good to excellent in Peace down to 16 in the northeast.
As for surface soil moisture levels, the report showed there were no regions with excessive amounts. The Peace region had by far the best ratings at 57 per cent good to excellent, with the central next at 29 per cent, south at 28 per cent, northwest at 21 per cent and the northeast at 20 per cent.
When it came to subsurface soil moisture levels, Peace was at 61 per cent good to excellent, then a sharp drop to the south and northwest at 18 per cent good to excellent, with the northeast at 17 per cent, followed by the central at 16 per cent. No excessive levels were reported.
