The final Alberta crop report for 2024 has been released, with the provincial government saying harvest is “virtually complete” at 99 per cent for all crops.
The report, which covers conditions as of Tuesday, October 22, notes that favourable weather conditions in August and early September allowed harvest to progress at a record pace. That means harvest progressed ahead of the provincial five-year average of 93 per cent and the 10-year average of 87 per cent for this time of the year.
Per region, officials say producers in the South, Central and Peace regions have “effectively finished harvest”. Harvest in the Northeast and Northwest regions are both at 97 per cent complete, with the expectation harvest will be finished by the end of this week.
The major crops with the most left to combine are oats and canola, at 97 and 98 per cent complete, respectively, with sugar beets at 90 per cent as of Tuesday, October 22.
CROP QUALITY
The final estimated crop quality ratings for the 2024 season have been updated.
The report shows that the crop quality for oats and dry peas are rating more in the top two grades than the five-year average. Spring wheat, durum, barley and canola are all grading less in the top two grades than the five-year average.
The final report of the year includes the last estimates of dryland yields for the crop season. Province-wide, officials say the five-year yield index for major crops indicates that yields are estimated to be 97.1 per cent of their five-year average.
The full crop report is available at the Government of Alberta website.
