(Resource News International) Harvest operations in Alberta continue to be
slowed by scattered shower activity and the absence of warm
temperatures, according to a crop specialist with the Alberta
Ag-Info Centre.
“The harvest is stuttering in a number of regions with
precipitation just enough to only allow for a couple of hours a
day of harvest progress,” said Harry Brook, a crop specialist with the
provincial farm specialists’ centre in Stettler.
The lack of warm temperatures have also prevented crops in
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northern Alberta where only 15 per cent of the harvest was said to be
complete. Most of the harvest activity in the Peace River area
was said to be swathing.
Brook said harvest operations in southern Alberta were
complete, about 50 per cent done in the central regions and about 70 per cent
done in the northeast.
“A lot of producers have chosen to take the crops off in
tough condition, rather than waiting and then harvesting a feed
grade crop,” Brook said.
Canola yields, he said, have been quite variable. “I would say on average canola yields will be in the 30 to
35 bushel/acre range, but they have been as low as 20 to 25 bu./ac.
in some and over 40 bu./ac. in other regions,” Brook said.
The lack of rain and heat in July were blamed for the areas
of low yields.
Damage to crops in Alberta. from frost and to some extent
insects, has been evidenced, but damage from disease has been
minimal, Brook said.
Soil moisture conditions in the province, even with the
periodic showers, were rated as average, although some areas were
seen as needing a good soaking when the harvest was complete and
ahead of winter freeze-up, Brook said.
Seeding of winter wheat crops in Alberta was generally seen
as finished, Brook said. He estimated there will be a
significant increase in the area that was seeded to winter wheat
over past years.
“Producers who have not traditionally grown winter wheat
crop,” Brook said, noting that as a result there will be a few
acres planted in only marginal producing areas.
