2000 Feed and Harvest Summary Report

Provincial Summary

The winter of 1999-00 will likely be remembered for its unseasonably warm temperatures and lack of snowfall. Dry conditions the previous fall, continuing into winter, in portions of the Northern and Peace River Regions, caused soil surface and sub-surface moisture levels to be of particular concern to producers. In these drier areas, pasture regeneration was slow due to the previous year's overgrazing and dugout water reserves were low as little (if any) runoff occurred. As of May 1, approximately 89 per cent of the province reported that there were insufficient soil moisture reserves to sustain crops through dry periods.

In the south, seeding began near the second week of April, and was basically complete across the province by the end of May. Cool springtime temperatures including frosts in the Central and Northern Regions caused pasture regeneration and crop emergence to be slow and uneven. The frosts damaged and delayed canola and resulted in more than one million acres of canola needing to be reseeded.

The cool weather continued through much of the growing season hampering haying attempts and causing many producers in the Northern and Peace River Regions to wrap up an unusually late first cut of hay in later August and early September. The inclement weather caused much of the first cutting to rate as poor to fair good condition, with the quality of the second cut significantly improved. Most regions reported incidents of severe hail and some pest problems including disease, cutworm, grasshopper infestations etc. While wet conditions prevailed in the north, portions of the south and central portions of the province reported extremely dry conditions for pastures and spring crops. A prolonged heat spells in late July and August pushed the maturation of crops ahead and by the first week of September, producers in the Southern Region reported combining at nearly 75 per cent complete and overall about one-half of the provincial peas threshed.

Elsewhere in the province, fall harvest showers caused combining operations to come to a standstill. The damp conditions caused some oats to be stained, malt to sprout and caused dry down to be most difficult. In the Peace River Region, producers have been trying to combine up until two weeks ago, as there are significant acreages of wheat, barley, canola and forages with some facing storage space shortages. Provincially, with the exception of oats which yield is above the 1999 level, and five year averages, all other crops' quality and yields were below the 1999 bumper crop, and slightly below the five year average yields.

Livestock, Feed and Forage

In the spring, pasture water supplies were limited in the Northern Regions with increased demand noted for the dugout pumping program. Livestock and fodder reserves were generally adequate to surplus due to the mild winter and calf losses in most areas were minimal.

The cooler than normal temperatures experienced in the spring resulted in slow growth and greening of native pastures while dry conditions hampered regeneration in the south. Many of the crops in these drier areas were salvaged for feed as pastures did not recover. Irrigated hay crop yields and quality were rated as above average, with many producers averaging three cuts and exporting surplus supplies. Livestock as of December 1, were in good to excellent condition in all regions.

As of December 1, approximately 90 per cent of respondents expect sufficient feed reserves in the province and rated quality as fair to good. All regions with the exception of the Southern Region reported good supplies of all feeds, but a possible shortage of greenfeed and hay was reported in the south by 60 per cent. As well, 40 per cent of respondents indicated silage may be insufficient. In the Southern Region, feed grains and straw supplies were reported to be insufficient by 40 to 60 per cent of crop reporters, however, the quality of reserves range from fair to excellent condition. In other parts of the province, the quality of reserves is rated as fair to excellent.

Regional Assessments:

Region One: Southern (Strathmore, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Foremost)

In the south, possible shortfalls of hay and greenfeed could be experienced by 60 per cent of producers with 40 per cent possibly facing silage deficits. Approximately 60 per cent of respondents felt straw for feed and bedding was adequate, and 60 per cent rate feed barley supplies as insufficient, while 40 per cent felt feed oats were inadequate. Feed quality ranges from fair to excellent in the region.

Region Two: Central (Rimbey, Airdrie, Coronation, Oyen)

Adequate or surplus supplies of fodder and straw were reported by all respondents. In addition, feed grain supplies ranged from adequate to surplus. The quality of feed reserves is rated as fair to good.

Region Three: North East (Smoky Lake, Vermilion, Camrose, Provost)

The supply of forage, feed grains and straw is reported to be adequate to surplus. The quality of reserves ranges from fair to excellent.

Region Four: North West (Barrhead, Edmonton, Leduc, Drayton Valley, Athabasca)

All respondents reported adequate to surplus hay, greenfeed and silage stocks. In addition, all respondents considered the supply of straw and feed grains to be adequate or surplus. The quality of feedstuffs ranges from fair to excellent.

Region Five: Peace River (Fairview, Falher, Grande Prairie, Valleyview)

Adequate or surplus supplies of forage, feed grains and straw were reported by all respondents. The quality of supplies ranges from fair to excellent. There are however, significant acreages of frost damaged wheat, frozen/sprouted peas, barley and oats which are left to be combined.

Alberta Crop Yields

	1999	2000p	1995 - 1999	1999	2000p	00 vs 99
	(bushels per acre)		5 year avg.	('000 tonnes)		% Prd Chg.
All Wheat	42.3	37.8	39.5	8,178.4	7,287.8	-10.9
Barley	65.5	56.3	60.4	5,987.4	5,388.7	-10.0
Oats	70.0	71.0	65.9	863.6	657.0	-23.9
Rye	38.0	33.4	34.7	72.4	42.5	-41.3
Flaxseed	22.1	20.0	22.2	39.4	17.8	-54.8
Canola	29.0	26.0	25.5	2,971.0	2,154.6	-27.5
Total Six Majors				18,112.2	15,548.4	-14.2
Dry Peas	42.9	35.6	38.7	530.8	620.5	16.9
Tame Hay (tonnes per acre )	1.6	1.1	1.4	6,894.6	6,125.0	-11.2

Source: Statistics Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

Alberta Crop Acreage

	1999	2000p	1999	2000p	00 vs 99
	Seeded ('000 ac)		Harvested ('000 ac)		% Hvd Chg.
All Wheat	7,160	7,377	7,110	7,077	-0.5
Barley	4,750	5,400	4,200	4,400	4.8
Oats	1,400	1,300	800	600	-25.0
Rye	100	90	75	50	-33.3
Flaxseed	80	35	70	35	-50.0
Canola	4,550	3,750	4,520	3,650	-19.2
Peas	470	660	455	640	40.7
TOTAL	18,510	18,612	17,230	16,452	-4.5

Source: Statistics Canada and Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development

Feed Supply and Quality in Alberta

Feed Type	Supply	Supply Less	Quality Good +	Quality Less
	Adequate+	Than Adequate		Than Good
Per Cent
Greenfeed	87	13	74	26
Silage	91	9	96	4
Feed Straw	91	90	83	17
Bedding Straw	91	9	91	9
Feed Barley	87	13	77	23
Feed Oats	91	9	86	14
Hay	87	13	74	26

p - preliminary

Source: Statistics and Data Development Unit, AAFRD, Feed and Harvest Survey

Prepared by: Don Hansen

This information is maintained by Gail Atkinson
Last Revised/Reviewed December 18, 2000

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