ALBERTA
SOUTH
Farmers restart harvest
Farmers got machinery into fields on the weekend after weeks of wet, cool weather. Barley is ready to combine and canola is ready to swath. Some frost hit immature crops, but it is unclear how much damage was done. Mould and sprouting will downgrade crops. Quality issues will need to be assessed as crop is harvested.
CENTRAL
Canola sprouting
Harvest finally restarted again with warm, sunny fall weather. Some showers halted harvest in some parts of the region. Farmers are working late harvesting. Canola swaths have turned black in the field and some seeds have started to sprout. Cereal crops have also started to turn black from bleaching. Early samples confirm seed is downgraded, but not as bad as feared. Some may still make No. 3 and not be graded feed.
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NORTHWEST
Yields above average
Early seeded crops seem to have missed the worst of the frost damage. Farmers are in the field after a wet harvest season. Farmers’ hopes are high with above average yields and strong prices. Much of the cereal grains have lost yield after wet weather caused bleaching and sprouting. About two to three weeks of warm weather are needed.
NORTHEAST
Soft fields cause anxiety
Harvest resumed. Farmers are anxious about bringing large, heavy equipment into the soft fields. There are some reports of farmers getting stuck. Early reports show some downgrading of crops. Peas are coming off with some yield and quality reduction after stems collapsed and farmers had difficulty lifting the low crops. There are also reports of downgrading of canola from frost.
PEACE &B.C.
Harvest wrapping up
Harvest is wrapping up. Some early harvest crops came off in good condition, but wet weather has downgraded crops still in the field. Early yield reports are generally poor, but some pockets that received rain will harvest an average quality crop.
SOUTHWEST
Cereal yields average
Rainfall limited harvest, but producers were able to resume over the weekend. Cereal crop harvest is well underway, but yields are reported to be average with quality reduced because of wet conditions. Most harvested crops have required drying. Canola harvest is well underway with average yields. Frost affected corn and sunflowers. Little winter wheat has been planted.
CENTRAL &RED RIVER VALLEY
Harvest stalled
Little harvest progress was made over the past week because of wet field conditions. Most cereal grain harvest is complete. Canola harvest is mostly complete in the Red River Valley. Flax is mature and harvest is progressing. Canaryseed is being harvested and yields are average. Field beans are mature, but crops in swath are deteriorating. Some soybean fields have been harvested. Head rot in sunflower fields is worsening with wet conditions. Corn is maturing. Silage harvest has begun.
INTERLAKE
Soybeans harvested
Intermittent rain fell throughout the week, but warm conditions over the weekend had farmers back in the field. Some soybean harvest was underway at Teulon. Some cereal and oilseed harvest resumed, but wet conditions led to ruts in the fields. Little tillage has taken place. Mouldboard plowing is taking place on some farms in the north to renovate forage seed fields and bury crop residue. Haying activity was limited. Pasture conditions are wet with only slight regrowth on higher ground.
EASTERN
Oats unharvested
Rain prevented harvest earlier in the week, but progress was made over the weekend. Cereal crop harvest is mostly complete with the exception of oats. Oilseed harvest is mostly complete with some canola and flax remaining to be harvested. Soybean harvest is underway. Sunflower yield potential continues to vary because of excess water. Winter wheat seedling emergence is good to excellent. Progress in fieldwork continues. Some challenging conditions remain for hay producers.
SASKATCHEWAN
SOUTHWEST
Frost damages crops
Good harvest weather allowed farmers to restart harvest. Rain fell earlier in the week, but warm, sunny days allowed most farmers to restart harvest. Frost damaged some crops earlier in the week, but the extent of damage is unknown.
SOUTHEAST
Farmers make progress
Farmers are back in their fields after drizzly weather. Rain earlier in the week hampered harvest, but good weather allowed harvest to restart. Good progress was made on canola, peas, mustard and most cereals. Most crops are being harvested tough, which will complicate storage. Frost earlier in the week caused crop damage.
WEST-CENTRAL
Swathing resumes
Frost early in the week caused some damage to crops, but the overall damage is unknown. Harvest is underway again after nice fall weath-er arrived. Swathing of canola and combining of peas and mustard are the main activities. Little crop was taken off. Early grades of grain harvest show some downgrading. Fields are soft and harvest will be challenging.
EAST-CENTRAL
Wet spots still exist
Frost early in the week caused some crop damage. Farmers are heading into fields with good fall weather, but keeping a close eye on low spots to avoid getting stuck. Four-wheel drive tractors are parked close to the combine due to the wet fields.
NORTHWEST
Lodging a problem
Harvest began again after rain and frost earlier in the week. Excess moisture caused flooding, lodging, sprouting and bleaching. Wind also caused lodging. Greenfeed oats are being cut due to frost damage and rolled for feed. Ergot in wheat has been reported. Farmers are taking advantage of dry weather.
NORTHEAST
Peas downgraded
Harvest is underway after rain and frost hampered harvest earlier in the week. Some progress was made on peas, canola and wheat. Most peas harvested have been downgraded by weathering, bleaching and sprouting. Crops have high moisture content because of excess rain in the summer. Equipment is getting stuck in the field. Frost damage is being assessed. Late seeded crops were swathed to minimize frost damage.
