July 16, 2009

Slow crop development across much of Alberta could result in many grain and oilseed fields going to forage instead of being harvested, according to a Canadian crop specialist.

Rains of up to an inch in most of the province the past week were beneficial and also created a lot of second growth in fields where dryness had hampered germination, said Harry Brook, a crops specialist with the Alberta Ag Info Centre.

Brook said the newly emerging plants will be too late to reach maturity, while the first growth is thin in many cases. He said that the inconsistent fields will make harvesting difficult. Temperatures have been cool and the crops are developing slowly, he added, with overnight temperatures in the single digits in many cases.

Brook said farmers will have to determine whether it will be worthwhile to let the fields mature and attempt to get a crop, let them go to greenfeed, or use them for grazing cattle.

A few crops look okay, especially in the south, "but it's the exception rather then the rule," said Brook. "I don't think we'll see a whole lot of harvesting going on with a combine this year," said Brook. Although he added that livestock producers may be able to find some benefit from the increased feed supplies.