Crop Conditions as of Oct. 20 (final report for 2020)

Alberta Agriculture

Weather cooled down drastically this past week with the vast majority of the province seeing temperatures at least 6 degrees, some areas more than 10 degrees, lower than the long-term average. This cooling trend ended the week with a snowfall event affecting a wide swath down the length of the foothills, creeping east to include the Red Deer area.

Despite the weather, harvest progress was made with the province now reporting nearly 99 per cent of crops in the bin (Table 1), well ahead of the five and 10-year averages. As you move northward through the regions, the change in progress increases, with the biggest adjustment evident in the Peace region, where combining swelled seven points over last week. Both South and North West regions are currently over 99 per cent harvested, closely followed by North East and Peace at just under 99 per cent. Central region is slightly behind the other areas at 97 per cent in the bin. Remaining acres will be a challenge to harvest, and some may be grazed.

Soil moisture reserves vary greatly throughout Alberta with pockets of onein-50- year lows in Central, North West and Peace regions (dark pink areas on map) contrasting with areas experiencing onein-25-year highs (dark blue on map) in the North East and Peace. Southeastern Alberta was experiencing very dry conditions this summer, but rains within September have replenished the soil moisture in this area. Producers will be looking for winter snows in parts of all regions to replenish the soil moisture in preparation for spring planting.

Yield reports for Alberta remain high overall at 108 per cent of the five-year and 107 per cent of the 10-year indices (Table 2). The unstable weather patterns resulted in highly variable yields across the province, and within each region. Excess moisture caused flooding primarily in the North West, North East and Peace regions, which reduced yields in those wet areas and has led to acres being plowed under or abandoned this fall, and considerable crop coming off tough or damp and having to be dried. Grades are also variable, yet higher than the norm on a provincial level, with hard red spring wheat grading 87 per cent and durum 97 per cent in the top two grades, 43 per cent of barley is malt grade while 51 percent is grading 1CW. Oats are reported at 59 per cent in the top two grades, 89 per cent of canola is 1 Canada while 85 per cent of peas are 1 and 2 Canada followed by 12 per cent at 3 Canada.

Regional Assessments:

Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)

- Harvest is very near to completion with over 99 per cent of crop in the bin for this region. Sugar beet harvest came to a halt with the freezing temperatures, and are 83 per cent complete. The sugar factory is hoping for a controlled harvest once the freeze lets up. Grain corn and sunflower harvest will start after the freeze. - Dryland yields are above the five- and 10-year provincial averages in this region for most crops, with the exception of oats, which are one point lower at 77 bushels per acre. Spring wheat is averaging 54 bushels, durum 54 bushels, barley 74 bushels, canola 44 bushels while peas are averaging 48 bushels per acre. Irrigated acres are estimated at 81 bushels for spring wheat, 84 bushels durum, 104 bushels barley, oats 103 bushels, canola 63 bushels and peas 60 bushels per acre. Dryland potato yields are estimated 11 tons per acre, while irrigated are 17 tons per acre. Irrigated dry bean estimates are 29 cwt per acre with sugar beets at 28 tonnes per acre. - Crop quality estimates 96 per cent of hard red spring wheat and 97 per cent of durum in the top two grades, 66 per cent of barley reported as Malt with 31 per cent as 1CW, oats are all in the top two grades, canola is 88 per cent 1 Canada and peas are 97 per cent in the top two grades. Dry bean quality is reported high.

- Surface soil moisture is 26 per cent good or excellent, with sub-surface moisture 29 per cent rated good or excellent. - Forage reserve estimates in this region are 79 per cent adequate with 18 per cent surplus while feed grain supplies are 77 per cent adequate and 21 per cent surplus. Pasture condition is rated at 32 per cent good with an additional four per cent excellent.

Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)

- This region is slightly behind the rest of the province with 97 per cent of crops now combined.

-Dryland yields are above the five and 10year provincial averages in this region. Spring wheat is at 67 bushels, barley is 88 bushels, oats 85 bushels, canola 50 bushels, while peas are 47 bushels per acre. Durum is the exception being reported at 31 bushels per acre, compared to the five-year provincial average of 34 and 10-year average of 39 bushels per acre. Potato yields are estimated at 14 tons per acre.

-Crop quality estimates 94 per cent of hard red spring wheat and 100 per cent of durum in the top two grades, 50 per cent of barley reported as Malt with 42 per cent as 1CW, oats are 94 per cent in the top two grades with six per cent grading 3CW, canola is 88 per cent 1 Canada and peas are 92 per cent in the top two grades.

-Surface soil moisture is 77 per cent good or excellent with sub-surface moisture 81 per cent rated good or excellent.

- Forage reserve estimates are 79 per cent adequate with 19 per cent surplus while feed grain supplies are 82 per cent adequate and 17 per cent surplus. Pasture condition is 62 per cent good with an additional five per cent excellent.