Warm, clear days accelerate harvest of diverse crops across Alberta.
A shift in weather has provided a much-needed boost to Alberta's 2025 harvest. Following a period of cool temperatures and frequent rain, the latest heat wave, which started Tuesday, Aug. 26 was the hottest in some areas such as Edmonton in 145 years.
Clear days allowed widespread harvesting operations to begin across the province. This rapid progress has helped close the gap from the slow start, with harvest now 11% complete, just 4% behind the five-year average.
According to the AFSC and Alberta Government Crop Reporting Survey, the weather change has been particularly beneficial for yields. Provincial dryland yields for major crops are reported to be 19% above the five-year average and 11% above the ten-year average. This indicates that the earlier rain and cool weather, which occurred while crops were maturing, were surprisingly advantageous. The Central and South regions are leading the way with major crop yields estimated at 145% and 136% of their five-year averages, respectively.
Crop conditions are also rated highly, with 65% of all crops across Alberta in good to excellent condition, a significant improvement over the five-year average of 50%. The Central Region boasts the highest proportion of healthy crops at 93%.
The warm, dry weather has also improved field conditions, making it easier for machinery to operate. Provincial surface soil moisture is rated 57% good to excellent, which is 13% above the five-year average, though it has decreased slightly from the previous week. Sub-surface moisture remains strong, with 54% of the province rated in good to excellent condition.
Additionally, tame hay growth conditions are positive, with 44% of provincial hay rated good to excellent. The second cut of dryland hay is underway, with a promising yield of 1.3 tons per acre, which is ahead of the five-year average. The report also notes minimal pest pressure in most regions.
Photo Credit: istock-zhaojiankang