Crop Report - August 27, 2024

Harvest progress continues throughout the province, advancing by 17 per cent for all crops since the last report two weeks ago. Provincially, about 20 per cent of all crops have been combined, which is 8 per cent ahead of the 5-year average and 10 per cent ahead of the 10-year average (Table 1). Another 9 per cent of crops are currently in swath, while 70 per cent remain standing. Among all crops, harvest progress is furthest along for winter wheat, with 94 per cent complete, followed by fall rye at 93 per cent, dry peas at 73 per cent, and lentils at 59 per cent, across the province. Regionally, harvest has advanced in all areas. The South Region has seen the most progress, with 38 per cent of crops combined, 8 per cent ahead of the 5-year average. In the Central Region, 25 per cent of crops have been combined, which is ahead of the 5-year average by 15 per cent. Both the North West and North East Regions have less than 7 per cent complete, still 4 per cent ahead of their 5-year averages. The Peace Region is 11 per cent complete, 9 per cent ahead of the 5-year average. 

Crop conditions are currently rated 43 per cent good to excellent for all crops, in comparison to the 5-year average of 55 per cent and 10-year average of 57 per cent. The Peace Region has the highest proportion of crops rated as good to excellent condition at 57 per cent, followed by the South Region reporting at 54 per cent, the North East Region at 44 per cent, the North West Region at 34 per cent, and the Central Region at 22 per cent. 

Preliminary dryland yield estimates have slightly declined, since last reported two weeks ago. Currently, the major crops provincial yield index is estimated to be just 1 per cent below the 5-year average and 5 per cent below the 10-year average (Table 2). Within the province, the best yields are in the South Region at 19 per cent above the 5-year averages, while the Central Region has the lowest  at 12 per cent below the 5-year averages. Provincially, all yield indexes for major crops, are indicating estimated yields within 10 per cent of their 5-year averages, except for oats, which is estimated to be 13 per cent below the 5-year average yield, and canola, which is estimated to be 10 per cent below the 5-year average yield. These estimates are subject to change every two weeks. It is important to note that the estimates reflect each region’s estimated yield compared to its historical average yield for that region.

Precipitation over the past week was concentrated mostly in the North West, Peace, and the eastern part of the North East Regions, with these areas receiving 10-50 mm. The Central Region experienced light showers of 3 to 15 mm, while the South Region saw only 0 to 2 mm. Provincial surface and sub-surface soil moisture are both stable. Overall, the province is rated as having good to excellent surface (sub-surface) soil moisture conditions of 33 (27) per cent, an improvement of 1 (0) per cent from last week. Regionally, the per cent of surface (sub-surface) soil moisture rated as good to excellent is 31 (21) in the South, 30 (20) in Central, 27 (29) in the North East, 21 (18) in the North West, and 70 (71) in the Peace (Table 3). 

Tame hay conditions remained stable at 27 per cent this week across the province, though the North East Region saw a slight decline of 5 per cent in good to excellent. Second-cut dryland hay is 36 per cent complete, which is ahead of the 5-year average of 22 per cent. The provincial average yield for second-cut dryland hay is estimated at 1 ton per acre, below the 5-year average of 1.1 tons per acre. Quality is rated as 7 per cent poor, 54 per cent fair, and 39 per cent good to excellent. Second-cut hay on irrigated fields is 76 per cent complete, with the yield estimated at 2.2 tons per acre, and above the 5-year average of 1.6 tons per acre. Quality for baled irrigated hay is rated as 3 per cent poor, 36 per cent fair, and 61 per cent good to excellent. Regionally, tame hay is rated as 28 per cent good to excellent in the South, 13 per cent good to excellent in Central, 16 per cent good to excellent in the North East, 26 per cent good to excellent in the North West, and 59 per cent good to excellent in the Peace Regions (Table 4). 

Regional Assessment - Region Five: Peace (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)

• The Peace Region has combined 75 per cent of winter wheat, 42 per cent of dry peas, and 16 per cent of barley.
• Favourable conditions have allowed combining to progress to 11 per cent complete, with 14 per cent swathed and 75 per cent of crops are still standing.
• Dryland hay second cut is 87 per cent complete, with an average yield of 1.0 tons per acre. Pasture growth conditions are rated as 8 per cent poor, 32 per cent fair, 52 per cent good, and 8 per cent excellent.
• Regional sub-surface moisture is reported as 2 per cent poor, 26 per cent fair, 64 per cent good, 8 per cent excellent, and 0 per cent excessive.