Combines making their rounds in Alberta

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Published: August 16, 2024

Photo: Thinkstock

Glacier FarmMedia | MarketsFarm – As the harvesting of fall crops in Alberta exceeded the halfway point, the combining of the province’s spring cereals was just beginning, according to the latest Alberta crop report.

Winter wheat was at 57 per cent complete with fall rye at 53 cent done as of Aug. 13. Spring barley came in at nearly three per cent harvested with spring wheat and durum at less than one per cent off of the fields. In between were the lentils at 28 per cent harvested, dry peas at 21 per cent and chickpeas below one per cent. The combining of oats, triticale, mixed grain, and canola had yet to start or were too small to be included in the crop report.

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Overall harvest progress in Alberta was calculated to be a little more than three cent finished, a pinch above the five-year average.

The south region was furthest along at more than five per cent combined, with the central region at three per cent, Peace at two per cent, while the northeast and northwest were below one per cent.

As for crop conditions, the provincewide rating for all crops was 44 per cent good to excellent, up two points from last week. By region, the south led at 60 per cent good to excellent, Peace at 54 per cent, the northeast at 51 per cent, the northwest at 29 per cent and the central at 21 per cent.

The provincewide yields for dry land major crops were estimated to be 70 bushels per acre for oats, 60 for barley, 47 for spring wheat, dry peas at 38, and canola at 34. The first cut of dryland hay yielded 1.5 tons per acre with the second cut at 0.9.

Precipitation during the week in Alberta saw the central, northwest, Peace and south regions get up to 15 millimeters while the northeast had less than five.

Surface soil moisture levels were 32 per cent good to excellent across the province. By region, the moisture levels in Peace rated 49 per cent good to excellent, followed by the northeast at 35 per cent, the south at 34 per cent, the central at 27 per cent and the northwest at 23 per cent.

About the author

Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm

Glen Hallick - MarketsFarm

Reporter

Glen Hallick grew up in rural Manitoba near Starbuck, where his family farmed. Glen has a degree in political studies from the University of Manitoba and studied creative communications at Red River College. Before joining Glacier FarmMedia, Glen was an award-winning reporter and editor with several community newspapers and group editor for the Interlake Publishing Group. Glen is an avid history buff and enjoys following politics.

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