Canada: Harvest continues to face extraordinarily challenging conditions

The harvest in Western Canada continues to face extraordinarily challenging conditions as record breaking snow storms covered southern Alberta and parts of Saskatchewan earlier this week. The enormity of the storm and the accumulation of rain/snow across the prairies brought everything to a standstill, prolonging an already delayed harvest. Temperatures last week were in the single digits, well below seasonal averages, although they are forecast to return closer to seasonal levels later this week before dipping again next week, CMBTC reported on October 3.

The problem now is that many fields are so wet they cannot sustain the weight of the combines. This is different from summer rains when the ground dries out after a few days. Many fields are saturated and this is resulting in further degradation of crops. What remains in the fields will mostly be of feed quality, limiting the supply of malting barley this year.

The story of this year’s harvest is that while quality has been severely compromised by wide spread rains and cool temperatures across the prairies, there are pockets of good quality malting barley where farmers were able to get the crop off in good condition. Early quality indications are mixed with very low proteins reported in some areas (e.g. 9-10%) contrasted with other regions where protein is on the higher end (12-15%). Reports are of generally lower than average test weight and plump kernels, with many regions seeing sprout damage although germination levels are strong at this time. Farmers are also reporting high yields and little in the way of fusarium/DON present in the 2019 crop.

As much as possible, producers with malting barley at high moisture levels, that is otherwise sound, will want to get their barley into aeration bins to preserve quality, or optimally have it dried down to 13.5% moisture. Pre-sprouted barley may still qualify for malt if levels are low/moderate, particularly for the domestic malting industry who can process the grain quickly, so producers should check with their local elevator or malting company selector regarding options.

Alberta

There was heavy snowfall in the southern region of the province earlier this week, registering over 50 cm in the Lethbridge area. The wet conditions in most of the other regions brought harvest activity to a standstill. Wet/snowy conditions were also prevalent in the mid and northern regions of the province. The harvest will continue to be slow and farmers will struggle to get the crop into the bin. All the grain is tough and will have to be dried, which is a costly and time consuming exercise. Unfortunately, most of the crop remaining in the fields will be feed quality as too much wet, cool weather has degraded the barley.

• Southern region (Lethbridge, Strathmore, Foremost): This region received over 50 cm of snow which completely shut down all harvest. The forecast is for primarily sunny and dry conditions over the next week.

• Central region (Rimbey, Airdire, Olds): Snow and rain stalled harvest in this area and cool wet conditions have been a constant for the last month. Farmers have struggled to harvest their barley crop and should have roughly 60% completed by the end of September. The forecast is for drier, warmer weather in coming days, which should permit farmers to get back into the fields, although next week temperatures will drop again to below normal, with the potential for more moisture and even snow next week. The remainder of the harvest will be a struggle and the remaining barley will be tough and mostly of feed quality.

• Northeast region (Vermillion, Camrose, Provost): Cool and wet weather has delayed harvest however the weather pattern has improved somewhat with drier, warmer temperatures later this week, approaching more seasonal daytime levels for the weekend. This stretch of dry weather will allow farmers to resume harvest operations. According to the Alberta Crop Report only 8% of the harvested barley to date is eligible for malt barley. Most of the remaining barley will be feed and will be harvested tough and have to be dried.

• Northwest region (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc): Harvest is progressing slowly due to uncooperative weather conditions with only about 30% harvested to date, and last weekend’s snow/rain further slowed harvest progress. The weather improved in the latter part of this week and while the forecast is for more seasonal temperatures in coming days, continued intermittent rains will continue to slow harvest progress. To date, much of the harvested barley has been feed grade. Similar to the other regions, the grain is harvested tough and will have to be dried.

• Peace River region (Grand Prairie, Fairview): Scattered light showers and wet, cool conditions over the last week limited the amount of acres harvested. Drier conditions and more seasonal temperatures are forecast for the weekend, but there is more rain in the forecast for next week which will simply add to the delays in this year’s harvest and compromise quality prospects.

Saskatchewan

A stretch of warmer and relatively dry weather will enter most regions of the province this week and temperatures will be closer to the normal seasonal range. This will be an improvement over this past week when most regions were hit with snow or rain. The southwest corner of the province received 40 cm of snow, while the areas between Saskatoon and Regina and the north-central and northeast region up to Yorkton and south into Moosomin also received snow. This wet, snowy weather stalled the harvest again, which will require several consecutive days of dry, warmer weather to all harvest to resume.

As of September 30, the barley harvest is currently 68% complete according Saskatchewan Agriculture, with the southwest (78%) and northeast (81%) regions most advanced. Crops have been slow to dry down in the fields due to the frequent rains. The majority of the crop is tough and is being put into grain dryers and aerations bins. Much of the later harvested barley has a high chit count and will not be accepted for malt.

• Southwest region (Swift Current , Maple Creek): Snowy/wet conditions slowed down harvest but warmer, dry weather is moving into the region, which should get farmers back in the fields. Over 75% of the crop is in the bin, however the harvest is likely to drat out to mid month. Most remaining harvested grain will be tough and have to be dried.

• Southeast region (Regina, Weyburn, Moosomin): Harvest delays have been a common theme in this region due to cool, wet conditions and last weekend’s snowfall shut down harvest. Still farmers have managed to get more crop off between rains but it has been a struggle to harvest with the muddy conditions and equipment breakdowns. Dry, warmer weather has entered the region and forecast to continue through the weekend and into next week which will help farmers progress.

• Northeast region (Melfort, Tisdale): Farmers have done a remarkable job of harvesting between rain events with 80% of barley harvested, but the rain and snow this last weekend shut down progress. Dry, warmer weather has moved into the region and is forecast to continue into next week which will give farmers a good opportunity to resume harvest, however most of the later harvested barley will not make malt due to excessive chit count.

• West Central region (Saskatoon, Rosetown, Kindersley): Harvest progress resumed later this week as drier conditions have entered the region with day time temperatures approaching seasonal averages of 15°C. The barley harvest is about 60% complete.

• East Central region (Yorkton, Kamsack): Lingering rains and cool temperatures earlier this week kept harvest to a near standstill, however the weather is to improve on the weekend with warmer, dry weather entering the region which will enable farmers to return to their fields.

• Northwestern region (North Battleford, Lloydminster): This region is only about 55% harvested as snow and showers have hampered harvest operations, but farmers have made progress when the weather permitted. Frequent rains are recharging soil moisture but creating trouble for unharvested crops. Generally drier, warmer weather is forecast into next week, however rains expected on Friday may set the harvest back another few days. Barley quality is deteriorating quickly under these conditions and the remaining unharvested crop is being downgraded due to mildew and sprouting.

Manitoba

The barley harvest is largely done in Manitoba, but the province continues to be punished with ugly weather conditions. Having rained seven of the last ten days, there has been little opportunity for farmers to enter their saturated fields with reports of a number of combines sunk to the axels in fields. Farmers in Manitoba were able to harvest a good chunk of barley before the rains began in early September and as a result there was some nice quality malting barley produced. Reports are of good yields and higher protein levels this year compared with 2018. Most of the later harvested barley will be relegated to feed.

06 October, 2019