Crop Conditions: 
A lack of rain and above normal temperatures in the past week have advanced crop maturity in most areas of southern Alberta.
In the southern portion of our region most pulse crops are at physiological maturity and are being sprayed with desiccants or combined this week. Cereals are in firm dough to ripe stages and are being combined. Oil seeds are finished flowering and are beginning to dry down. Yield expectations have been lowered due to dry hot weather.

In the central and northern areas cereals are in milk to firm dough stages. Pulse crops are finished flowering and are finishing pod fill. Canola has finished flowering and is finishing pod fill.

There are a few reports of diamondback moth larvae in canola, and a few locations have applied insecticide. Scouting for bertha Armyworm hasn’t detected any hot spots with economic thresholds. Some areas are reporting aphids in cereals and pulse crops. However, with crop maturity advancing rapidly with the hot weather, spraying may not be warranted.

Harvest Progress: 
South of Hwy 3 harvest has been underway for about a week. Approximately 20-25% of pre-harvest spraying has been done. Most of this has been on pulses and early cereals. Combining of lentils has started with yields ranging from 25 – 35 bushels/acre. Combining of barley has started with yields in the 80 – 100 bushel range. No reports on bushels weights have been received.

In the northern half of our region desiccation of pulse crops has started this week. Crop maturity is advancing rapidly, and pre-harvest applications will be ramping up in the next two weeks.

Temperature and Precipitation:
Hot weather over the past week is the story. On Saturday daytime temperatures reached 34 to 39 degrees C. Since the beginning of July there has been virtually no rainfall across our market area.

Join us next week for another Crop Report!