Alberta crop conditions as of Oct. 11 (Final Crop Report for 2022)
Harvest is practically complete for the 2022 season; two to three weeks ahead of the 10-year average (see Figure 1). Harvest is even ahead of last year, which was another advanced year with respect to harvest progress (see Table 1). Provincially, about 99 per cent of all crops have been harvested, 23 per cent ahead of the 5-year average (2017-2021) and 17 per cent ahead of the 10-year (2012-2021) average. About 0.3 per cent of major crops are in swath and 0.5 per cent remain standing.
Feed and forage availability is mostly adequate, with some livestock producers having surplus. Provincially, forage reserves are estimated at 3 per cent deficit, 12 per cent shortfall, 69 per cent adequate, and 16 per cent surplus, while feed grain supplies are 2 per cent deficit, 8 per cent shortfall, 74 per cent adequate and 16 per cent surplus.
Regional Assessments:
Region One: South (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Foremost)
- Harvest of major crops is virtually complete and temperatures are cooling down, but still very little frost is reported. Soil conditions continue to be dry, raising some concerns. - Forage reserve estimates for this region are 10 per cent deficit, 24 per cent shortfall, 58 per cent adequate and 8 per cent surplus, while feed grain supplies are 5 per cent deficit, 17 per cent shortfall, 70 per cent adequate and 8 per cent surplus. - Fall-seeded crops are rated as 8 per cent poor, 47 per cent fair, 44 per cent good and 1 per cent excellent.
Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Harvest of major crops is 99 per cent complete, and fall fieldwork is near completion. Some shower activities over the past week helped to maintain and even improve soil moisture reserves in some parts of the region. No killer frost has yet been reported.
- Forage reserve estimates in this region are 2 per cent deficit, 6 per cent shortfall, 87 per cent adequate and 5 per cent surplus, while feed grain supplies are 2 per cent deficit, 2 per cent shortfall, 91 per cent adequate and 5 per cent surplus. -Fall-seeded crops are rated as 10 per cent poor, 42 per cent fair, 47 per cent good and 1 per cent excellent.