As of Sept. 1, harvest operations appear to be seeing mixed progress throughout the North West Region.
The latest crop report from the Agriculture Financial Services Corporation (AFSC) and the Government of Alberta says overall harvest completion is at one per cent compared to the five-year average of 14 per cent.
Some areas have begun swathing and combining, but recent rainfall has slowed the start of harvest in other parts of the region.
Meantime, sub-surface soil moisture sits at zero per cent poor, two per cent fair, 43 per cent good, 46 per cent excellent and nine per cent excessive.
Pasture growth conditions are rated as two per cent poor, 29 per cent fair, 51 per cent good and 18 per cent excellent.
Harvest reportedly progressed elsewhere in the province following warm weather and scattered precipitation.
The AFSC says provincial harvest of major crops is now 10 per cent complete, representing a six per cent increase from the previous week. Current harvest progress is behind both the five-year and 10-year averages of 23 and 17 per cent, respectively.
Regionally, harvest progress of major crops (weekly change) was reported as 27 (+12) per cent in the South, 12 (+10) per cent in the Central, two (+2) per cent in the North East, one (+1) per cent in the North West and three (+3) per cent in the Peace Region.
Provincially, dry pea harvest is reported as 53 per cent complete, with 26 per cent of the crop having been harvested over the past week. Barley harvest is 20 per cent complete, up 12 per cent. Spring wheat harvest sits at six per cent complete, with five per cent of the crop harvested since the previous report.
The most improved surface soil moisture ratings this week were in the North West and Peace regions, mostly due to warm and dry weather reducing excessive moisture over the past week, the AFSC reports. The Central Region was the only area to record a decline in ratings over the same period. Provincial surface soil moisture is rated as 56 per cent good-to-excellent, 18 per cent above the five-year average.
Regional good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are 42 (+3) per cent in the South, 49 (-4) per cent in the Central, 67 (+1) per cent in the North East, 69 (+8) per cent in the North West and 86 (+7) per cent in the Peace. All regional ratings remain above the five-year average for this week.
According to the report, regional sub-surface soil moisture conditions have experienced a small increase across all regions this week, bolstering overall moisture reserves. Provincial sub-surface moisture in good-to-excellent condition is at 57 per cent; a three per cent increase since last week, still above the five-year average of 36 per cent and 10-year average of 48 per cent.
Regional sub-surface good-to-excellent ratings (change from last week) are reported at 36 (+1) per cent in the South, 45 (+2) per cent for the Central, 70 (+3) per cent for the North East, 89 (+10) per cent for the North West and 92 (+4) per cent for the Peace.
Pasture growth rated as good-to-excellent stands at 39 per cent, representing an 8 per cent decrease from the previous week. Despite this weekly decline, the AFSC says the current rating remains in line with seasonal norms, sitting above the five-year average of 29 per cent and in line with the 10-year average of 40 per cent.
Meantime, regional pasture good-to-excellent growth conditions (change from last week) are reported as 46 (zero) per cent for the South, 14 (-20) per cent for the Central, 57 (-3) per cent for the North East, 69 (-6) per cent for the North West and 49 (-1) per cent for the Peace Region.
Provincially, the report notes that tame hay growth is currently rated at 47 per cent good-to-excellent, a five per cent decrease from last week. Although down from last week, the current rating remains above both the five-year average of 31 per cent and the 10-year average of 45 per cent.
Regional good-to-excellent growth conditions (change from last week) are reported as 47 (+2) per cent for the South, 25 (-16) per cent for the Central, 43 (-1) per cent for the North East, 73 (-4) per cent for the North West, and 55 (-1) per cent for the Peace.
The North West Region includes Barrhead, Drayton Valley, Leduc, Edmonton and Athabasca.
