| | This information has been made available by Agriculture Financial Services.
The August 31, 2006 Crop Report is also available as a PDF file on the AFSC website.
Prepared by:
James Wright
Project Manager
Research and Program Development
Lacombe, AB
Telephone: (403)782-8336
Provincial
Harvest is in full swing throughout the province with approximately 35% completed to date. In many areas, harvest is 10 – 14 days ahead of normal. Weather conditions continue to be dry, with spotty precipitation in some areas that has slowed but not delayed harvest. Early yield results indicate cereal yields may be slightly better than earlier projected but canola and field pea crops have been more affected by the dry, hot summer than earlier thought and are yielding lower. Overall, dryland yields on all crops are anticipated to be average to below average. Quality is good but there are many reports of lower test weights in areas with light soil textures.
Forage crop conditions continue to decline with over 70% of the pastures and tame hay in the province rated as poor or fair. Subsoil moisture is rated 31% poor/ 34% fair/ 33% good/ 2% excellent.
Lethbridge Region
The dry weather continues to persist across the region. Subsoil moisture conditions have declined to 35% poor/ 29% fair/ 29% good/ 7% excellent. The performance of irrigated special crops is rated high with good yields anticipated for potatoes, sugar beets and dry beans.
Forage crops are suffering from the continuing dry weather. Pastures are rated 41% poor/ 37% fair/ 18% good/ 4% excellent with tame hay rated 26% poor/ 43% fair/ 27% good/ 4% excellent. The harvest of dryland and irrigated 2nd cut hay is nearing completion.
Red Deer Region
Weather has been dry with a few showers which has slowed but not delayed harvest. Subsoil moisture is rated 14% poor/ 35% fair/ 47% good/ 4% excellent. Forage crops continue to be rated well. Pastures are rated 11% poor/ 36% fair/ 46% good/ 7% excellent. Tame hay is rated 18% poor/ 29% fair/ 45% good/ 8% excellent. Approximately 45% of the 2nd cut hay crop has been baled.
Camrose Region
Harvest in this north central part of the province is off to a slightly later start and has been slowed in some parts of the region by spotty light precipitation. Sub soil moisture conditions are rated 32% poor/ 39% fair/ 29% good/ 0% excellent. Forage crops are suffering as a result of the continuing dry conditions with 77% of the pastures and 86% of the tame hay acres in the eastern half of the region and 72% of the pastures and 75% of the tame hay in the western half rated poor/fair. 27% of the 2nd cut hay has been baled in the east with 50% completed in the west.
Fairview Region
Crop yields are extremely variable within the region, mirroring the type of season they have endured. Sub soil moisture ratings continue to decline with 44% of the region rated poor/ 28% fair/ 27% good/ 1% excellent. Forage crop conditions have pastures and tame hay rated at 40% poor/ 40% fair/ 19% good/ 1% excellent. Approximately 85% of the 2nd cut hay crop has been baled. |
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