Alberta Harvest Advances; Yield Potential Improves

Alberta yield potential is improving as the harvest advances. 

Friday’s weekly crop report estimated dryland yields for major crops at 19% above the 5-year average and 11% above the 10-year average. That marks a 4-point increase in both indexes from the estimates last reported two weeks ago. 

Meanwhile, the harvest of major crops (spring wheat, oats, barley, canola, and peas) was pegged at about 8% complete as of Tuesday, up 6 points from a week earlier although still behind the five- and 10-year averages of 15% and 12%, respectively. The harvest of all crops was reported at 11% done as of Tuesday, versus 2% two weeks earlier. 

The average Alberta spring wheat yield is now estimated by the province at 50.6 bu/acre, with oats and barley at 71.8 and 69.1 bu. Canola is estimated at 39.7 bu/acre, and peas at 47 bu. 

“The extended period of rain and cool temperatures, which occurred while crops matured, appears to have been beneficial with multiple reports of yields surprising to the upside,” the crop report said. 

Still, except for peas, the provincial yield estimates for the major crops are below what Statistics Canada forecast in its crop production report on Thursday. The StatsCan report put the average Alberta spring wheat yield at 54.8 bu, oats and barley at 82 and 69.4 bu, and canola at 41.5 bu. On the other hand, StatsCan put the Alberta pea yield at a more modest 39.5 bu.