Approximately 820,000 acres still require harvesting
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
Alberta farmers have harvested just over 30 per cent of their 2016 crops, according to the Alberta Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry’s May 9 Crop Conditions report.
About 820,000 acres remain unharvested. Farmers in the Peace River Region (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie and Valleyview) still have to harvest 87 per cent of their acreage.
When it comes to the 2017 crop, seeding is coming along slowly.
Farmers have only planted 13 per cent of Alberta’s total crops as of the May 9 report, well below the five-year average of 32.7 per cent and the 44.8 per cent seeded at this time last year.
26.3 per cent of the dry peas crop and 15.7 per cent of the barley crop have been seeded.
Below-average temperatures and showers are forecasted for many parts of the province, leading to high surface soil moisture levels.
18.3 per cent of Alberta recorded excessive surface soil moisture ratings, according to the report. The North West Region had the highest recorded moisture rating at 38.3 per cent.
REGIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)
- Warm temperatures with some sporadic showers.
- Producers have completed 40 per cent of seeding, compared to five-year average of 58 per cent. 6 per cent have emerged.
Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)
- Farmers have completed 10 per cent of seeding, down from the five-year average of 33 per cent. No crop emergence has been recorded.
- 70 per cent of unharvested acres from 2016 (about 97,000 acres) has been taken off.
- About 41,000 acres remain unharvested.
- Farmers have harvested 75 per cent of cereals and 65 per cent of canola.
North East (Smoky Lake, Vermillion, Camrose, Provost)
- Producers have seeded 2 per cent of the region, compared to the five-year average of 18 per cent. No emergence has been recorded.
- 35 per cent, or about 183,000 acres of the overwintered crop has been harvested.
- About 339,000 acres remain unharvested.
North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayon Valley, Athabasca)
- Farmers have seeded less than 1 per cent of their acreage.
- 20 per cent of unharvested crops, or about 47,000 acres, has been harvested.
- About 187,000 acres still remain unharvested.
Peace River
- Producers have seeded less than 1 per cent of their acreage.
- Excessive moisture remains in 20 per cent of the region.
- 37,000 acres, or 13 per cent of the overwintered crops, have been harvested.
- About 251,000 acres remain unharvested.