Alberta Harvest Enters Final Stretch

The Alberta major crop harvest is into the homestretch. 

Friday’s provincial crop report showed the harvest of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola, and dry peas) at 89% complete as of Tuesday, up 12 points from a week earlier and ahead of the five- and 10-year averages of 82% and 65%. 

The Peace Region was leading harvest progress at 93% done as of Tuesday, followed by the South at 91%, the North West at 90% and the North East at 90%. The Central is bringing up the rear at 84% complete. 

“With regional harvest progress ahead of or near to historical five-year averages, producers remain on track to complete harvest in the next few weeks,” the report said. 

Provincial cereal crops are essentially finished. Spring wheat and barley are both 96% harvested, comfortably ahead of their five-year averages of 89% and 91% respectively. Oats are at 91% complete, far exceeding the 74% norm. With cereals wrapped up, the focus has turned to canola, where rapid progress this past week was evident. Canola harvest advanced 21 points, bringing provincial completion to 77%, compared to a five-year average of 68%. Of the canola yet to be harvested, 12% remains standing and 11% is swathed and drying in the field. 

The pea harvest is also largely complete. Attention in the weeks ahead will remain on finishing canola and any remaining late-seeded cereals.