Harvest is now in for virtually the entire province.
According to Alberta Agriculture & Forestry’s final crop report of the year, 98.6 percent of crops are now in the bin.
Here in the Peace Country, wet conditions from rain and snowfall over the past couple of weeks saw harvest progress stall their advance, with just nine percent making it in.
But, despite this, 95 percent of crops from the whole year are in the bin, with just three percent in swath, and only two percent that are still standing. As well, the quality of harvested crops in this area is above their provincial five-year-averages, with the exception of dry peas number 1. That’s the only one that saw a lower percentage than the five-year average.
Forage reserves are at a 34 percent surplus, 61 percent adequate, three percent shortfall and two percent deficit. Feed grain is also at a 34 percent surplus, but has a 63 percent adequate rating, and is two percent shortfall and one percent deficit.
As for surface soil moisture ratings, they’re rated at eight percent excessive, 28 percent excellent, 45 percent good, 15 percent fair, and four percent poor. Sub-surface ratings, meanwhile, have ratings of eight percent excessive, 27 percent excellent, 41 percent good, 19 percent fair, and five percent poor.
Returning to a provincial scale, both forage and feed grain reserves remain at adequate to surplus, but some producers are anticipating a shortfall. As well, Alberta’s dryland yield index is estimated at 97.4 percent.
– Posted by BET
