Summary of crop conditions, week of Sept. 4 to Sept. 11.
Alberta
Peace
Near Fort Vermilion, 60 percent of all crops have been harvested. Peas and barley are especially advanced. Recent frost could affect immature canola. Near Manning about 50 to 60 percent of crops are swathed and 30 percent harvested. Cool, wet weather has hurt many crops. In the south region about 80 percent of canola is swathed but only 40 percent of other crops. The second cut of hay is good, but supplies are tight.
North/Central
Read Also
Going beyond “Resistant” on crop seed labels
Variety resistance is getting more specific on crop disease pathogens, but that information must be conveyed in a way that actually helps producers make rotation decisions.
In central regions, conditions vary from the wet west, where harvesting is slow, to the east where it is progressing rapidly. Almost no swathing has occurred in the far west but crops have turned. Wheat yields should be just above average, but many plowed down acres in the east will lower average. Harvest is progressing well in north. In the Provost to Lac La Biche area about 40 percent of crops are harvested. Quality and yields are better than expected. In the Athabasca to Wetaskiwin region about 20 percent of combining is complete and about 60 percent of swathing.
South
Rain last week slowed harvest. About 50 percent is now complete. Some producers finished while others with late-seeded crops are just beginning. Yields for almost all crops are above average.
Saskatchewan
North
Excellent harvest conditions prevail in the northeast. More than half the combining is finished. Frost is only a worry for late-seeded canola. Yields are variable. Average wheat yields are 20 to 30 bushels per acre with poor protein levels. Problems with staining in barley. Only about 15 percent of crops have not been swathed. Close to half of crops have been harvested.
Central
The west-central harvest is half done. Most pulses are in the bin. Wheat is progressing fast and canola is bringing up the rear. One week of good weather should conclude most harvesting. Lentil yields are disappointing. Cereals and canola should reach the long-term average. East-central crops are in full harvest. Canola and barley yields near Kamsack are poor.
South
Southwest producers aren’t going to get the bumper crop they expected. Large scale hail and rain damage to crops have lowered quality and quantity. A long rain-caused delay in southeast harvesting is over and producers are back in full swing. About 50 percent of border crops are harvested but along the Trans-Canada highway only about 10 percent are done. Canola yields will probably be disappointing and wheat has been harmed by wheat midge infestations. Fall rains have hurt malting barley.
Northwest/Interlake
The Interlake region saw 3-13 mm of rain. Harvest is virtually complete in the northern Interlake. Alfalfa seed harvest is progressing. In the northwest region, wheat is yielding an average of 30 bushels per acre, barley 50 bu and canola 25 bu. In the Interlake, yields are variable but better than previously thought with above-average quality.
West
Harvest was slowed last week by 15-75 mm of rain, followed by light frost in some areas on Sept. 7. Harvesting is most advanced in the central and southwest parts of the region. So far, yields are as follows: Wheat 25-35 bushels per acre, barley 50-60 bu, oats 60 bu, flax 20 bu, canola 20-25 bu, and peas 25-40 bu. Hard red spring wheat has been grading #1 and #2 CW. Some loss in grade is expected because of recent rain.
Red River Valley
Some hail damage reported on swathed canola between Swan Lake and St. Leon. Wet areas include Domain, Glenlea, St. Agathe and St. Pierre. Harvest of cereals is nearly complete except around Pilot Mound . Almost all canola has been swathed. Yields so far are slightly below average: wheat 25-35 bushels per acre, barley 50-80 bu, Argentine canola 20-40 bu, Polish canola less than 20 bu. In eastern districts, canola is grading #1. Flax and buckwheat harvest has just started.
Highlights:
“Crops are so doggone variable it isn’t even funny.”
– David Hryhor, Saskatoon agrologist
Source: Provincial agriculture departments, Alberta Wheat Pool, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool
