Alberta harvest reaches 60% as favourable weather speeds up fieldwork
The latest provincial crop report shows a 21-point jump in harvest completion in a week, though the Peace Region still trails its longer-term averages.
Why it matters
The pace and quality of this year's harvest affects farm incomes and crop supplies across the province.
Wind and sunshine have allowed Alberta producers to make significant progress on a later-than-usual harvest, according to the latest Alberta Crop Report from AFSC. Provincewide harvest completion for major crops rose 21 per cent to reach 60 per cent complete.
In the Peace Region, harvest completion climbed 22 per cent to 45 per cent, though that remains behind the five- and 10-year averages of 80 and 56 per cent respectively. Dry peas are furthest along provincially at 97 per cent complete, followed by barley at 79 per cent, spring wheat at 73 per cent, and canola at 31 per cent, with another 36 per cent of canola swathed.
Soil moisture in the Peace Region remains strong, with sub-surface moisture unchanged at 97 per cent good-to-excellent and surface moisture down only slightly to 89 per cent good-to-excellent. Pasture growth improved three points to 48 per cent good-to-excellent, broken down as 18 per cent poor, 34 per cent fair, 39 per cent good and 9 per cent excellent.
Fall-seeded crop conditions in the Peace were rated six per cent poor, 27 per cent fair, 55 per cent good and 12 per cent excellent. The next Alberta Crop Report is scheduled for release on Oct. 9.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.