MarketsFarm – Alberta farmers managed to make some progress despite trying conditions of cold temperatures mixed with snow and rain, including some hail, according to the province’s latest weekly crop report.

For the week ended Nov. 5, approximately 88.0 per cent of all Alberta crops were in the bin. That’s up from 80.9 per cent the previous week. Of the remaining crops, slightly more than half were swathed with the rest still standing.

The canola harvest reached 82.7 per cent complete province-wide. Regionally, that ranged from 60.1 in Peace River to 94.7 in the south. The quality of the canola, province-wide, was 78 per cent at Number One and 14 per cent at Number Two.

The wheat harvest stood at 89.5 per cent finished, with Peace River the furthest back at only 61.6 per cent. The rest of Alberta ranges from 90.5 per cent in the northeast to 97 per cent in the south.

Farmers in the south made only two per cent progress over the week to reach 97.2 per cent finished, as they were held up by snow, rain and cold weather. However, only two per cent of the crops were left swathed with one per cent standing.

In central Alberta, growers achieved five per cent progress despite difficult conditions and stood at 92.3 per cent finished. Alberta Agriculture believes the harvest has wrapped up for 2019, due to snow in the fields.

The northeast saw farmers add another nine per cent to the harvest, to hit 87.1 per cent done. Despite tough crops and the necessity of drying what did come off.

The northwest witnessed growers making the best progress at 20 per cent and reached 93.0 per cent complete. However, with snow and cold temperatures in the forecast their harvest is likely finished for the year.

In the Peace River region, the harvest advanced four per cent to 63.4 per cent finished. Of what’s left in the fields, 14 per cent is swathed and 23 per cent was standing.

The Nov. 8 report marks the final weekly crop report of 2019.