September 3, 2021

Crop conditions in Western Canada deteriorated through July and August due to severe drought which affected crop growth and development. Now rainfall is creating more concerns as farmers harvest their crops. The combination of drought and now wet harvest weather in some regions have significantly affected the size and quality of the western Canadian barley crop this year.

Statistics Canada projected barley production in their August 31 report at 7.8 million tonnes based on satellite imagery from July. However dry, hot weather persisted well into August and many in the industry believe Canada’s barley production will likely end up closer to 7 million tonnes.

The historically small crop as well as significant quality issues will make selecting malt barley a challenge for the Canadian maltsters and exporters. South of the border the US barley crop is also struggling with North Dakota and Montana also severely affected by drought conditions.

 

ALBERTA

In Alberta, barley harvested acreage is struggling to get to 40% complete and yields are averaging below 40 bushels per acre. Cool temperatures and wet conditions are now stalling harvest progress. Quality issues are widespread with light test weight, thin kernels and high protein count. All regions will register well below average yields.

Combining AAC Connect, Penhold, AB, August 25, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

Harvesting CDC Copeland, Edmonton area, August 25, 2021

SASKATCHEWAN

In spite of recent rains across many parts of the province, harvest continues to progress quickly with barley harvest across Saskatchewan now 50% complete. The effects of the drought this summer were most damaging in the southwest part of the province. In the last 3 weeks of August, rainfall has caused harvest delays with farmers using the down time to dry their cereal grains. There have also been hail events in the past three weeks that will impact barley production.

Hail Stones in the Yorkton area from August 30

MANITOBA

Barley harvest is mostly wrapped up with about 95% in the bin. Yields are variable ranging between 20-80 bushels per acre. Little to no fusarium damaged kernels in samples so far. Some downgrading is expected on unharvested crops from the recent periods of rain, although the moisture was welcome in many areas to recharge the soil.

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2021 Canadian Barley Harvest & Quality Update

The 2021 barley harvest in western Canada was largely wrapped up by the end of September this year, with the exception of a few areas such as the Peace which were completed in October. By all accounts 2021 was one of the worst growing seasons in a generation with dismal results in terms of both the quantity and quality of this year’s barley crop in western Canada.

July 12, 2021

Parts of Western Canada are mired in the worst drought since 1988.  Heat and lack of rain has caused irreversible production loss that will increase if dry conditions and lack of rainfall continue in coming weeks.  The excessive heat in the southern region of Alberta and the Southwest region of Saskatchewan has caused the barley plants to shut down. These two regions traditionally produce over 2 million tonnes of barley, and it is estimated that 1.5 million tonnes of production is already lost. 

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