As of Oct. 27, combining in the North West Region is 98 per cent complete, with barley and oats within one per cent of finishing and canola with three per cent left to combine.
That’s according to the latest crop report by the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta.
Surface soil moisture and sub-surface soil moisture ratings decreased by six and two per cent since last week. Surface soil moisture (sub-surface) in Region Four is now rated as 14 (zero) per cent poor, seven (26) per cent fair, 37 (40) per cent good, 31 (27) per cent excellent and 11 (six) per cent excessive.
The AFSC says this will be the final 2026 Alberta Crop Report of the season as harvest is virtually complete in most regions. As harvest has extended longer than normal, officials say there are not enough comparable years to provide five-year and 10-year comparisons for this week’s timeframe.
Provincial harvest of major crops progressed four per cent from last week and is now 97 per cent complete.
While harvest in the South and Central regions were both over 99 per cent complete last week, the North East Region progressed six per cent to be 98 per cent complete, and the North West progressed seven per cent to be 98 per cent complete.
The Peace Region progressed eight per cent and is now 89 per cent complete, according to the report. In the Peace Region, dry peas are complete and spring wheat and barley are 96 per cent complete. Oats are 91 per cent combined in the Peace Region but canola is only 80 per cent complete. Another 15 per cent of canola is swathed but cold temperatures and moisture are delaying major progress.
Canola and oats also remain the only crops left to harvest in the North West and North East regions with less than five per cent of both crops in each region left.
Cool weather, overnight frost and a mix of rain and snow over the past week created challenges for northern producers working hard to get the remaining crop in the bin. The AFSC says producers are reportedly combining crops above the recommended moisture levels and using grain dryers to try and get the crop in before lasting snow.
This increases already present concerns of tough grain and canola dockage from moisture, green material and weeds, officials say. The Peace Region, furthermore, reported concerns of damage to standing crops from wildlife. Fall field work is also being completed across the province as producers work to address the weed pressures and unwanted growth prompted by the wet harvest season.
Fall seeded crop conditions increased three per cent since last week and are now rated 72 per cent good-to-excellent, provincially. The highest ratings were reported in the South and North West regions at 85 and 83 per cent. The remaining regions were reported below the provincial average and were rated at 65 per cent good-to-excellent in the Central Region, 47 per cent in the North East and 64 per cent in the Peace Region.
Rain or snow was reported in each of the regions this past weekend, improving surface and sub-surface conditions in the South and Central regions following the completion of harvest, the report notes. While not conducive to harvesting conditions, the AFSC says precipitation helped surface and sub-surface soil moisture remain stable or increase by one per cent in the North East and Peace regions. Surface soil moisture rated good-to-excellent decreased by six per cent in the North West Region and sub-surface also decreased by two per cent.
Spring wheat soil moisture reserves (relative to long term normal to a depth of 120 cm) are near normal or above for most of the province except the western part of the Central Region. Many parts of the South, North West, North East and Peace regions are rated moderately high to extremely high.
Provincially, surface soil moisture is rated 66 per cent good-to-excellent and sub-surface is rated 65 per cent good-to-excellent. Surface soil moisture (change since last week) is rated 71 (+4) per cent good-to-excellent in the South, 46 (+2) per cent in the Central, 71 (zero) per cent in the North East, 68 (-6) in the North West and 94 (+1) per cent in the Peace Region.
Sub-surface soil moisture (change since last week) is rated 59 (+10) per cent good-to-excellent in the South, 51 (+1) per cent in the Central, 73 (+1) per cent in the North East, 67 (-2) in the North West and 99 (zero) per cent in the Peace Region.
The AFSC also reports that some producers are starting to bring cattle home and weaning calves, while others, specifically in the North West, are taking advantage of favourable pasture conditions and delaying the need to use winter feed.
Provincially, pasture is rated 46 per cent good-to-excellent, down two per cent from last week. The South Region reported at 67 per cent good-to-excellent (-1 per cent from last week), the Central Region at 20 (-4) per cent, the North East at 41 (-5) per cent, the North West at 71 (+6) per cent and the Peace at 41 (-6) per cent.
The North West Region includes Barrhead, Drayton Valley, Edmonton, Leduc and Athabasca.
