OTTAWA, ONTARIO (RFD NEWS) — Prairie harvest is running well behind normal as persistent wet, cool weather keeps farmers out of the fields across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Lyndsey Smith with RealAg Radio joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report with a harvest update on Canada’s three Prairie provinces, which are reporting harvest progress of about 45%, compared with a five-year average of more than 80% at this point in the season.
IN her interview with RFD News, Smith said some farmers have been able to return to the fields as conditions improve, but the prolonged wet weather is creating concerns about crop quality.
Smith said one farmer told RealAg Radio that a wheat field was started at the end of August before rain forced the producer to stop fieldwork— and he was unable to return for three weeks.
“That wheat crop stood mature, ready to be harvested for weeks in the rain,” Smith said. “And that, of course, leads to the inevitable downgrading and poor quality, and even sprouting.”
Wheat and Cereal Quality Issues and Higher Drying Costs
Smith said some crops are handling the conditions better than others.
Canola has seen some issues with standability, while sprouting can also become a concern. Wheat and other cereal crops have taken a bigger hit from the wet conditions.
Malt barley quality could also become more difficult to find, according to Smith.
For wheat, one concern is falling numbers, a measurement that can indicate sprouting or enzyme activity in the crop.
“That falling number impacts what you can do with the eventual flour that we will make,” Smith said.
The combination of delayed harvest and quality concerns could also create challenges for farmers marketing the crop through the winter.
With wetter grain coming out of the fields, grain dryers are running heavily, adding another expense for producers.
Smith said farmers are trying to get back into the fields when conditions allow, but crop quality and handling costs will remain concerns.
Delayed Harvest Could Affect Next Year’s Crop
If the slow harvest pace continues, Smith said farmers could face additional challenges when marketing lower-quality grain.
Blending lower-quality grain with better-quality grain can become more difficult when a larger share of the overall crop has quality issues.
“Farmers are going to have to be pretty sharp with the pencil on their marketing,” Smith said.
Wet field conditions could also create longer-term concerns heading into spring.
Smith said running equipment over wet fields can lead to compaction, which could affect future yields.
“The question as well is not just, can you get the crop off, but what does a field look like when you’re done?” she said. “Because that’s going to significantly impact next year as well.”
