Canada: Barley harvest progressing slowly, crop expected at around 10 mln tonnes
Barley harvest is progressing very slowly across Canada and the forecast has temperatures dropping into single digits by next week in some areas with the possibility of snow flurries which is not encouraging for the combining of grain. A combination of lingering rains and wet conditions are contributing to the slow pace of harvest in Western Canada. Farmers are getting combines stuck in fields as they rush to get their crops off before the next rain event. Depending on the crop conditions and weather situation in the region, the majority of grain that remains unharvested is likely to be degraded, CMBTC reported on September 26.
On the plus side, farmers are reporting higher than average yields, which along with bigger seeded area this year, is pointing to a 10 million tonne barley crop, assuming producers manage to finish the harvest. However with many areas experiencing delayed harvest and quality issues, particularly pre-harvest sprouting, grain companies and maltsters may have to get creative and source malting barley from non-traditional areas to meet demand. This year's quality issues may also lead to a very tight carryover of malt barley for next year, or no carryover at all.
Early quality indications suggest that this year’s malting barley crop will have lower than average protein content, and below average plump kernels and test weight. And with pre-harvest sprouting an issue this year, buyers should ensure grain is stored very carefully and processed as quickly as possible to avoid germination issues. One bright spot this year is very limited reports of fusarium or DON presence in the 2019 western Canadian malting barley crop.
Alberta
Harvest stalled this week due to intermittent rain events, cool temperatures and persistently high humidity. Farmers keep pushing to harvest under less than ideal conditions. Harvested grain is tough and is being put on aeration and dried before being stored long term. Some regions experienced hail last week, causing light damage (assessments are underway). Ripe, mature barley crops are being downgraded due to this last stretch of wetness and low temperatures. Barley harvest is about 40% complete throughout the province, however frost and snow are a possibility in the central and northern regions later this week, which will just add to the struggle to complete the harvest.
• Southern region (Lethbridge, Strathmore, Foremost): The barley is under cover and some of the early harvested crop was marketed into the feed channels in August, when feed barley prices were very strong. Overall barley in the region has averaged 11-14% protein with some reports of lightweight and lower plump.
• Central region (Rimbey, Airdrie, Olds): Harvest progress remains painfully slow in this region due to persistent wet conditions which are not expected to improve. Overnight temperatures are forecast to dip below zero by the end of the week, and here is also more rain in the forecast which will only slow harvest progress. Yields are expected to be large, however quality will be an issue. To date harvested barley has a plump quality spec. ranging from 60-95% and the proteins have been low at 10.5-11%, which is ideal for the maltsters but lower than desired by the export market, particularly China. Yields are higher than average with fields registering over 85 bushels per acre (bu/ac) and some touching 100 bu/ac. A large percentage of the barley is being harvested tough and will have to be dried before it can be marketed.
• Northeast region (Camrose, Vermillion, Provost): This is another region struggling with harvest. Weather conditions have stalled progress which is considerably behind the five-year average. Harvest is slow with only about 20% harvested although the forecast next week is for drier weather. The barley is being harvested tough and will have to be dried. The chance of harvesting malt barley quality going forward diminishes on a daily basis.
• Northern region (Edmonton, Barrhead, Leduc): Harvest progress has been minimal as lingering rains have made the majority of the fields soggy and combines are getting stuck in the mud trying to harvest their crop. Drier conditions last weekend would have permitted some harvest to move forward, however progress remains slow. The combination of the shorter daylight hours and low day- and nighttime temperatures will degrade the unharvested crop. More rain this week shut down the harvest again for a few days although starting on the weekend the weather is supposed to dry out and stay dry into next week. While yields are still forecast to be large, the quality will be mediocre.
• Peace River region (Grande Prairie, Fairview): Over the past week, showers and cool weather have hindered harvest progress and farmers were able to combine very little of the crop. The forecast for next week is drier and with temperatures in the low double digits which should allow some farmers to get back in the fields and resume harvesting.
Saskatchewan
Warmer weather accompanied by strong winds helped dry some of the crop this past week and move harvest along in parts of the province. Harvest is most advanced in the southwest region, but is still well behind the 5 year average, as is most of the province. More lingering rains late this week will keep farmers out of their fields for a couple of days, and while the forecast is for drier weather next week, below average temperatures in the forecast will not help the situation. Farmers continue to harvest the barley tough and place it on aeration until they can dry the barley at a later date but the persistent wetness during the harvest season has caused significant sprout damage this year. Most regions are reporting that barley still in the fields has little chance of making malt quality this year. The province needs several weeks of warm dry weather but that is not in the forecast.
• Southwest region (Swift Current, Maple Creek): Farmers had been making some progress in this region with the barley harvest now about 50% complete. However rains late this week has brought that to a standstill in many areas, and with day- and night-time temperatures expected to drop to low single digits, and the possibility of snow into next week, the prospect for harvest progress is not good. Early results show protein levels between 11.2-12% and the plump over 85%.
• Northeast region (Melfort, Tisdale): Light rains covered this region this past week delaying harvest. Any unharvested barley will likely be of feed quality, it has been in the fields too long, in cool wet conditions, and will be harvested tough with high sprout counts. On the positive side, a Synergy field, just north of Tisdale, yielded 103 bu/ac.
• Southeastern region (Regina, Weyburn, Moosomim): A few warm days early this week helped some farmers but now rainfall and cool temperatures are slowing harvest again. There is rain in the forecast for the weekend and temperatures are expected to drop to single digits. About 40% of the barley crop has been harvested, well below the five-year average for this time of year of 70%.
• East Central region (Yorkton, Kamsack): Lingering rains continue to plague this region and has stalled harvest progress. Farmers will have to continue to roll their combines whenever the weather permits. Equipment breakdowns due to the muddy conditions are further slowing harvest. Most of the barley that has been combined has registered some level of sprout, generally below 10%, however the later harvested barley will likely see elevated levels of sprouting.
• West Central region (Saskatoon, Rosetown, Kindersley): Some harvest progress was made over the weekend and early part of the week but rains have shut down the harvest again for at least a day or two. Going forward the temperatures will drop to single digits both day- and night-time which is not helpful for drying the crops. Only 35% of the barley harvest has been complete so far this year, well below the 50% five-year average.
• Northwestern region (North Battleford, Lloydminster): Harvest is moving at a modest pace due to cool, wet weather. Combines were able to roll in the early part of the week, however the harvest has been interrupted again with rain later this week. The weather will turn colder on the weekend/next week with temperatures dropping to single digit and snow expected mid-week. The region needs several weeks of warm, dry weather to complete this year's harvest, however that is just not in the forecast.
Manitoba
The grades appear good for most of the barley in the province but there are reports of some chitting. The northwest region, around Dauphin, is the only region that still has a significant amount barley to harvest, however cool, wet weather is slowing down the harvest pace. Southern Manitoba was hit by a severe rain storm over the past weekend, receiving 50-150 mm of rain over a 72 hour period.
26 September, 2019
