Alberta Harvest Ramps Up (as Farmers Hope They Can Move it)

The 2024 Alberta harvest is progressing steadily, confirmed the provincial crop report released Friday, though regional disparities and weather challenges continue to shape the crop conditions across the province.

As of August 20, the overall harvest for major crops was 8% complete, a pace that is above the 10-year average but slightly behind the 5-year benchmark.

The South Region leads the progress with 15% of crops harvested, though this is still below its 5-year average of 24%. In contrast, the Central Region moved to 12% done, well above its 5-year average of 7%, while the North West, North East, and Peace regions lag with less than 3% of their crops harvested, aligning with historical averages.

Weather has been a critical factor, as always, with scattered showers across the province influencing both harvest pace and crop conditions.

Despite some progress, the South Region is dealing with heat and early August hail, leading to concerns about kernel shriveling and potential grade loss. The Central Region, although ahead in harvest, faces challenges from recent rains that have slowed down drying, compounded by heavy dew and humidity. Meanwhile, the North East and North West regions are contending with crops that are slow to mature, with issues like thin canola stands and reflowering due to cooler weather and smoke. The Peace Region, though seeing improvements in soil moisture, has also experienced slow harvest progress, primarily in dry peas.

Of the crops remaining in the field, 40% were rated as good to excellent, a significant drop from the 5- and 10-year averages of 55% and 57%, respectively.

The Peace Region stands out with 54% of its crops rated good to excellent, while the South follows at 52%, despite a recent decline. Other regions report lower ratings, with the Central and North West particularly struggling, showing just 21% and 28% of crops in good to excellent condition.

Soil moisture levels tell a similar story of regional variability. The South and Central regions report lower moisture levels, exacerbating crop stress, while the North West and Peace regions benefit from recent rains, showing the highest levels of soil moisture.