Peace Region harvest reaches 23.4% as of Sept 22, still trails province
Drier weather has helped Peace Region farmers gain ground, though the area remains furthest behind in harvest completion in Alberta.
The latest Alberta Crop Report from AFSC shows harvest of major crops in the Peace Region was 23.4 per cent complete as of September 22, a 10-point jump from the previous reporting period. Despite the gain, the Peace remains well behind the province's five- and 10-year averages of 65.7 and 43.3 per cent respectively.
Progress varies by crop, with winter wheat at 74.7 per cent complete and fall rye at 73.1 per cent, while canola sits at just 10 per cent and oats at 18.4 per cent. Grading estimates show 95 per cent of hard red spring wheat and 92 per cent of canola making top grades, though only three per cent of malt barley varieties are expected to reach 1 C.W. and dry peas are projected at zero per cent 1 Can grade.
Dryland yield estimates for the region include 51.6 bushels per acre for spring wheat, 64.4 for barley, 66.6 for oats, 36.7 for canola and 42.9 for dry peas. Soil moisture remains the strongest in the province, with surface moisture at 90 per cent good-to-excellent and sub-surface at 96 per cent, though pasture growth declined five points to 46 per cent good-to-excellent.
Provincially, first-cut dryland hay yielded an estimated 1.9 tons per acre with 58 per cent rated good-to-excellent, while second-cut hay yielded 1.5 tons per acre at 68 per cent good-to-excellent, both above 10-year averages. AFSC noted that high precipitation created challenges for haying in some areas despite the stronger yields.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.