Harvest levels are also below the five-year average
By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com
Harvest completion levels in Alberta rose by 4 per cent from last week, according to Alberta Agriculture’s latest Crop Report.
Farmers have harvested 60 per cent of their total crops, up from 56 per cent last week. But that number is still below the five-year average of 67 per cent.
On a regional level, growers in Southern Alberta (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Foremost) have harvested 98 per cent of their crops, which is the most of Alberta’s five regions. That number is up from 94 per cent last week and ahead of the 85 per cent five-year average.
Only potatoes, sugar beets and flax need to be harvested in the region, according to Alberta Agriculture’s Sept. 26 report.
While farmers in the Northwest (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley and Athabasca) have only harvested about 14 per cent of their crops. That number is the lowest of Alberta’s five documented regions. The figure is also consistent with last week’s number, but is also well below the five-year average of 52 per cent.
Farmers in the Peace Region (Fairview, Falher, Grande Priarie and Valleyview) experienced the greatest regional increase in terms of harvest completion, according to the report.
Growers have harvested 39 per cent of their crops, which is up from 31 per cent last week. But the levels are still below the five-year average of 70 per cent.
Most of the crops coming off the fields is good quality, but with some areas experiencing harvest delays, the remaining crops could suffer.
In the North East (Smoky Lake, Vermillion, Camrose and Provost) for example, cool temperatures and light rain has shut down harvest in most areas.
“Crop quality has been very good and maybe a little better than anticipated,” the report says. “It is expected that the quality of crops remaining to be harvested will be negatively impacted by the harvest delays currently being experienced.”