September 21, 2020
Official harvest progress by province:
- As of Sep 15, Alberta barley harvest is estimated at 47% complete (source AB Ag).
- As of September 14, Manitoba barley harvest is estimated at 92% complete (source MB Ag).
- As of Sep 14, Saskatchewan barley harvest is estimated at 72% complete (source SK Ag)
Barley harvest is advancing quickly throughout the Prairies. If it were not for wet, cold conditions in some regions the barley harvest would be close to finished. The northern regions of Alberta have been plagued by wet and less than ideal growing conditions which delayed crop maturity and pushed back the start of harvest. Meanwhile, the majority of the harvest is complete in Saskatchewan although the Northwest region is being slowed down by nuisance rains. Manitoba is 90% finished their barley harvest. Overall the malt barley harvested to date is showing very good quality with generally high test weights and plump kernels, low incidence of DON and limited chitting. There has been a relatively wide range of proteins with the majority of the samples in the 11-13.5% range. This is a high quality crop, and there will ample tonnage available for the domestic and the export market. The forecast for the next week to ten days is for warm, dry conditions which will significantly advance the barley harvest in outstanding areas.
ALBERTA
Barley harvest is finished in the southern region while the central region is quickly concluding their barley harvest. The northern tier, having been fighting wet and cold conditions for the majority of September, have roughly 30 to 35% of their barley harvest done. The provincial average as of today would now likely be over 60% done. The early quality results are good with wide ranging protein levels of 10-14%, plumps generally 85% and yields averaging slightly better than 80 bushels per acre. What is needed is a good harvest weather window of ten days to two weeks to get the barley crop harvested. Harvesting tough barley crops in the northern regions of the province is becoming more common. There is no doubt that a high percentage of the barley combined in the northern tier of the province will have to be dried and will be feed.
Southern Region: ( Lethbridge, Strathmore, Foremost )
Barley harvest is finished and the barley is in the bin. It has been a banner year for this region. Overall the yields and quality of the barley remain good to excellent with the yields averaging over 100 bushels per acre on dry land on many farms. Average yields should easily eclipse 80 bushels per acre. The protein level ranges from 10-14%.
Central Region: ( Rimbey, Ardrie, Olds )
This region has 75-80% of the barley acres harvested. Crop forecast for this region was for a large, high quality crop. The early quality to data has been good with proteins on the lower side and plumps over 80%. There are some farmers coming to the unpleasant realization that the July hail storms have been more punitive than had been anticipated, some farmers were seeing 100 bushel per acre crops in early July are now harvesting 30/40 bushel per acre crops. Good weather this past weekend and dry warm forecast for this week should assist in getting the remaining barley acres harvested this week
North East Region: (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)
This region has suffered from hail and rain combined with lower than normal summer temperatures which has delayed crop development. Harvesting tough barley crops is becoming more common in this region. They are in the early stages of harvest although with good progress made the past few days, the barley harvest may now be 40-45% done. There was some rain this past Sunday, but the weather forecast for this week and then next ten days is for dry conditions which should move barley harvest forward.
North West Region: (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)
This region has been receiving weekly rain events which has resulted in poor harvest conditions. This is another region where harvesting tough barley is becoming more common, it has been four consecutive years of difficult harvest conditions. It is estimated that 35-40% of the barley has been harvested. The forecast for this week is promising with most warm dry weather. A high percentage of the barley harvested will have to be dried. This region needs a dry, warm weather window to move their harvest acres forward, although no doubt some fields may have to be abandoned due to the extreme wet conditions
Peace River Region: ( Fairview, Grand Prairie )
Barley harvest is slowly moving forward and is now roughly 25-30% complete. Warmer weather this past week helped advance the harvest but this region is still struggling with too much moisture and cool conditions. There is not much known on the early harvested barley quality with the exception that the early yields are averaging 65-70 bushels per acre.
SASKATCHEWAN
Barley harvest is advancing quickly throughout the province. At this time at least 80% of the barley crop should be in the bin. There were a few interruptions due to some rains over the last 10 days, however compared to last crop year, this has been a much better experience. More warm dry weather is in the forecast for this week which will permit the barley harvest to get close to wrapping up for this year. Overall, the barley quality have been good to excellent with most areas averaging yields of over 80 bushels per acre. Protein levels are in the 11.0-13.5% range and the major of the barley is over 90% plump. There should be a high percentage of acceptable malt barley available for the domestic and export the malt barley market. As always there has been some acres lost to hail which was punitive in the Northeast Region.
Southwest Region: ( Assiniboia, Swift Current, Maple Creek )
Northwest Region: ( North Battleford, Lloydminster )
Harvest progress has been a challenge in this region due to the wet conditions that have persisted throughout the crop year and again into harvest. Good dry conditions the pass week moved along harvest and with the exception of a Sunday rain event, the forecast is for a rain-free warm dry week into next ten days which will greatly advance the barley harvest. To date, the barley quality has been good with yields with over 80 bushels per acre, protein levels in the 12 to 13.5% range and the plump over 85%. Some of the barley harvested has been stored in either aeration or in the dryer to reduce the moisture level.
West Central Region: ( Saskatoon, Kindersley, Biggar )
Over 60% of the barley acres have been harvested in the Kindersley and Rosetown area and close to 75% of the barley harvest has been completed in the Saskatoon area. Some nuisance rains have delayed harvest in the last two weeks and there was a rain event this Sunday which will keep the farmers out of the fields until mid week. There is dry weather in the forecast for the next week which should bring the barley harvest to a conclusion for this year. The overall results of the Rosetown and Kindersley barley are good quality with a protein range of 12-13.5% and plumps averaging over 90%. The early yields are averaging over 90 bushels per acre with a number of fields topping over 100 bushels per acre.
Over 60% of the barley acres have been harvested in the Kindersley and Rosetown area and close to 75% of the barley harvest has been completed in the Saskatoon area. Some nuisance rains have delayed harvest in the last two weeks and there was a rain event this Sunday which will keep the farmers out of the fields until mid week. There is dry weather in the forecast for the next week which should bring the barley harvest to a conclusion for this year. The overall results of the Rosetown and Kindersley barley are good quality with a protein range of 12-13.5% and plumps averaging over 90%. The early yields are averaging over 90 bushels per acre with a number of fields topping over 100 bushels per acre.
Southeast Region- ( Regina, Weyburn, Moosomin )
Over 80% of the barley acres have been harvested and with a forecast of warm dry weather for this week, harvest advancement should climb to 90% by the end of this weekend. Yields have been good with the Weyburn area registering 80 bushels per acre yields and the Moosomin area is averaging 90-100 bushels per acre. The quality has been good with the protein average of early harvested barley at 11-12.8% and the plump registering over 90%.
Northeast Region- ( Prince Albert, Tisdale, Melfort, Nipawin )
Harvest at times has been a challenge in this region due to a number of rain events that have slowed down harvest activity. However, the farmers have been persistent and have managed to get 90% of the barley crop harvested in this region. Some of the tonnage will have to be dried as it was combined tough. A large percentage of the barley was swathed and farmers were justifiably concerned that the nuisance rains and strong wind storms would adversely affect yields and the quality of the barley, so they chose to harvest some of the barley at elevated moisture levels. Since virtually all the farms have dryers in this region, the barley will get dried or stored in a aeration bin. The forecast for this week is for warm, dry temperatures which should permit the last barley acres to be harvested.
East Central Region: ( Yorkton, Kamsack, Watrous )
This region has enjoyed warm dry conditions for the pass week and are forecast to have warm dry weather for the next week. Barley harvest should be close to finished this week. Some of the barley will have to be dried as it was harvested a little tough. The overall results are good quality with average early yield reports of 75 bushels per acre. There are some fields that yielded over 100 bushels. Some farmers are a little disappointed with their yields as early yields looked like 90-100 bushels per acre but the August heat blast nipped some yield off the crop. Overall there is a good barley crop coming from this region.
MANITOBA
The barley harvest has come to an end in the southern and central regions. Overall the quality is good and the yields have been above average.
The barley harvest has come to an end in the southern and central regions. Overall the quality is good and the yields have been above average.
Southwest Region- ( Brandon, Virden, Boissevain )
Barley harvest is finished in this region.The yields have been in the 80-90 bushel per acre range.
Barley harvest is finished in this region.The yields have been in the 80-90 bushel per acre range.
Central Region ( Portage La Prairie, Red River Valley )
Barley harvest is all done in this region. Yields ranged from 70-120 bushels per acre and protein levels are in the 12 to 13.5% range.
Northwestern Region: ( Roblin, Swan River, Dauphin )
The weather conditions have not been ideal for the barley harvest. It has been wet which has resulted in slow harvest progress. With better weather this past week, farmers were able to push harvest progress forward.
