MarketsFarm — As harvest progress in Alberta remained well ahead of the five-year average, soil moisture levels in the province continued to dwindle.
With a gain of 12 points on the week, Alberta Financial Services Corp. (AFSC) estimated 87.6 per cent of the major crops were harvested. While that’s slightly below this time last year, it’s far above the five-year average of 57.3 per cent complete.
In addition to what’s been combined, 14 per cent of crops in Alberta were swathed, with seven per cent remaining untouched.
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By region, the south was furthest along in the harvest at 97 per cent finished, followed by the northeast at 90.2 per cent. Next was the central region at 85.5 per cent done, then the Peace region at 81.1 per cent and the northwest at 75.1 per cent.
By crop, dry peas were almost finished, being at 98.6 per cent combined. Spring wheat and barley were in a virtual dead heat at 95.3 and 95.4 per cent respectively. Oats was next at 85.9 per cent complete and canola was 74.8 per cent.
The province continued to become drier, according to AFSC. There’s no longer any region that had excessive moisture and levels in Alberta were all of 26.2 per cent good to excellent. Peace River fared the best at 49.6 per cent good to excellent, then the northwest at 40.9 per cent, central at 32 per cent, the northeast at 22 per cent and the south at only 11 per cent.
Added to that, only a quarter of Alberta’s pasturelands were rated good to excellent. That’s despite significant rainfall in the Peace during the week.
