Strong Alta. barley harvest anticipated

Early reports of barley harvest suggest high yields

Alberta farmers have begun harvest and, in many areas of the province, it looks to be a good year for a lot of crops including barley.

“We'll be looking at more than an average crop overall,” said David Bishop. He is the chair of the Alberta Barley Commission.

The latest crop report shows 77 per cent of the barley crop in the province rated in good to excellent condition. The average estimated yield is 70.4 bushel per acre.

Bishop has heard reports of at least 70 bushel per acre in the area he farms near Claresholm as well as much of the southern part of the province.

Unfortunately, however, some areas of Alberta aren’t looking as good, said Bishop.

“We're going to have a big year overall in most of the province except the (north and Peace River regions) that are too wet and there are some pockets that had lots of hail,” he told Farms.com.

Overall, though, the weather in Alberta this year was favourable, which is a nice change, said Bishop.

We are “really looking forward to harvest this year compared to the last couple years where it's been too dry,” he said. “We're a lot more optimistic this year about yields than in the last couple of years. ... It's good to have a catch-up year where we have a good yield.”

Barley harvest will ramp up in the coming weeks.

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