The prairie harvest is about two and a half weeks ahead of schedule, says Bruce Burnett, director of weather and crop surveillance with the Canadian Wheat Board.
“That’s substantially ahead of normal,” Burnett said.
“The progress this year has been similar to the 1998 harvest, which was well ahead of schedule too.”
As they were in 1998, crops were planted early in spring and hot, dry weather pushed the harvest ahead of schedule. However, yields in 1998 were much better.
“The moisture situation was better in 1998. We weren’t coming off a drought like we are this year,” Burnett said.
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On average, spring wheat yielded 33 bu. per acre in 1998 and durum ran 31 bu. per acre.
Statistics Canada projects yields this year of 28.9 bu. per acre for spring wheat and 23.1 bu. per acre for durum.
In some areas, the harvest is nearing completion.
“By and large, Manitoba is finished the harvest,” Burnett said.
Saskatchewan’s cereal crop harvest is about 90 percent complete. Overall, Saskatchewan farmers have harvested 85 percent of the crop.
Oilseeds are not as far along but Burnett predicted Saskatchewan’s 2003 harvest would be complete by the weekend barring wet weather.
In Alberta, about two thirds of the crop would be in the bin.
“It was wet, and Alberta planted somewhat later than they usually plant,” said Burnett.
“In Peace River region, they’ve just nicely gotten into harvest.
“They didn’t get as much heat and got more rain. They didn’t dry off as quickly.”
Peace River crops are decent after three years of drought, he said.
Some farmers across the Prairies are already finished combining and are getting a head start on other fieldwork.
Others are taking a break.
Norman and Laura Shoemaker, who farm near Mossbank, Sask., are looking forward to taking time off, something they couldn’t do last fall.
“We’re done and I think it’ll be great to have some time off. Last year we combined till Christmas, so now we’re just looking forward to having a break,” Laura said.
Weldon Newton, president of Keystone Agricultural Producers, finished combining Sept. 7 on his farm west of Neepawa, Man.
Newton said the land is dry, so he’ll begin to sow his winter wheat a few weeks early. This year’s grain must be monitored and moved as well.
“The grain went in the bin too hot, so now we’ve got to turn it so it can cool,” he said.
“That’s what we’ll be doing with our time off – working.”
Many farmers in Alberta still have crop in the field but according to Rod Scarlett, executive director of Edmonton-based Wild Rose Agricultural Producers, harvest is going well.
“Things are progressing very well across the province, and people have been pleasantly surprised by the yields they’ve been getting,” he said.
Scarlett said the Peace River is the only region that’s behind schedule due to late rains and cool temperatures.
Scarlett’s hay crop, like most across the grainbelt, suffered from a lack of moisture this year.
“Our second hay cut has not been particularly good,” he said.
“The first cut was excellent. But since the lack of rain, it’s all dried up.”
