October 23, 2009

Canola continues to be the main crop in Alberta still left to be harvested, although some wheat is also sitting in a few fields, a crop specialist with the Alberta Agriculture Information Centre said Thursday (October 22).

"I would estimate that about 20 percent of the canola in the central regions of the province remains left to be harvested and less than 10 percent of the canola in the Peace River region of northern Alberta still has to be combined," said Neil Whatley, a crop specialist.

Producers have been unable to get into the fields due to continued wet conditions, he said.

"There has been a steady drizzle over much of the province over the past few days which has prevented producers from finishing up the harvest," Whatley said.

A good portion of the canola that was still in the fields reflected the producer's decision to see if the crop would mature further and remove the green seed count, Whatley said.

There was also some spring wheat still left to be harvested, he said. However, the amount of wheat on the fields was believed to be less than 10 percent.

Yields of the crops that have been harvested were said to be "better than expected on average," Whatley said.

Winter wheat in the province has been seeded and was said to be in fairly good shape.

"A lot of producers who had sprayed chemicals on fields this spring, and then had to give up on the crop due to dryness, have decided to give winter wheat a shot," Whatley said.

Once producers have finished their harvest operations and any fall fieldwork, a good soaking rain event would be welcomed ahead of the ground freezing, he said, as top and subsoil moisture levels across much of Alberta need to be replenished.