Summary of crop conditions, week of Sept. 2 to Sept. 9.
Alberta
Peace
Harvest operations are at a standstill. Following extreme heat in August, rain has showered the Peace since Aug. 30. A considerable amount was swathed but almost no combining has been attempted. High Level and LaCrete in the northern Peace had completed about 20 percent of their harvest while further south almost none is done. Quality downgrading is anticipated on all oilseeds and cereals. Some minor frost has been reported.
North/Central
Heavy morning dews and showers have delayed harvest across the northeastern and central portions of the province. Temperatures reached 33 C and caused overheating in combines at the end of August but the first week of September brought cool, rainy weather. In the northeast, those who got some crop off are seeing variable yields. Peas yielded 35 to 52 bushels per acre, canola is running at 15-25 bushels and barley is 50-70 bushels. In the central districts rainfall of up to 25 mm is causing variable yields. Coronation to Oyen expect below average yields while regions from Stettler to Drumheller expect slightly above average crops. Barley is coming off light and has been reported as low as 32 pounds per bushel.
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South
Rain during the first week of September followed by cool, cloudy conditions stopped field work. Harvest on dryland was about 80 percent done while irrigated farms are about 65 percent complete. Maturity is slow because many crops were seeded late. Yields are average and protein content in cereals is high.
Saskatchewan
North
Harvesting of spring crops is about 16 percent complete, behind the five-year provincial average of 35 percent. Operations are least advanced in the Hudson Bay district. Progress by crop is: Wheat, 11 percent; durum, nine percent; oats, eight percent; barley, 19 percent; canola, 18 percent; mustard, nine percent; lentils, 37 percent; and peas, 42 percent. Light frost was reported last weekend in the areas of Tisdale, St. Brieux, Beatty, Henribourg and Spiritwood. Pastures rated poor to fair in central and western regions and fair to good in the east.
Central
About 20 percent has been combined in central regions. Canora area is the least advanced at 10 percent overall. Progress by crop is: Wheat, 15 percent; durum, 13 percent; oats, nine percent; barley, 29 percent; canola, 28 percent; mustard, 29 percent; lentils, 46 percent; and peas, 49 percent. Light frost reported near Ituna, Endeavour, Kelvington, Rosetown and Ruthilda. Hail was reported in eastern areas, as was wind damage and bleaching due to rain.
South
Harvest in the south is about 34 percent complete, compared with 25 percent province-wide. Shaunavon area leads the province at 70 percent done. Progress by crop is: Wheat, 32 percent; durum, 31 percent; oats, 30 percent; barley, 44 percent; canola, 33 percent; mustard, 60 percent; lentils, 57 percent; and peas, 63 percent. Light frost was reported near Avonlea. Some hail occurred in the southeast corner. Pastures are fair to good, but poorer in central and western areas. Cattle are being taken out of community pastures in the west due to poor conditions.
Manitoba
Northwest/Interlake
Rain stopped everything on Sept. 4. The northwest region got 10-60 millimetres while parts of the Interlake were hit by hail, plow winds and up to 150 mm of rain. Some fields were lost. Wheat is almost half off and is grading No. 1 with average yields of 35 bushels per acre. Canola is about five percent combined with yields up to 30 bu/ac. The second cut of hay is slow because of poor drying conditions.
West
Severe thundershowers stopped harvest on Sept. 4; rain ranged from nine to 50 mm. Fields around Waskada and Goodlands were damaged by wind and hail. Cereal harvest is more than half done; yields are at least average. Most wheat is grading No. 1. Buckwheat swathing has just started around Somerset.
Red River Valley
Thunderstorms stopped combines on Sept. 4. Wind and hail damaged crops north and west of Winnipeg. More than half of cereals and a quarter of canola has been combined in south central districts. Most wheat is grading No. 2 with yields up to 45 bushels per acre. Canola is yielding up to 40 bu/ac. Harvest is most advanced around Dominion City and Steinbach, and least advanced near Altona.
