Alberta Crop Report - August 26, 2025

While cool temperatures and regular rainfall slowed the start of harvest 2025, the past week provided the warm clear days needed for widespread harvest operations to begin. Across the province it is a very busy time, harvest of fall-seeded crops is nearly complete, half of the spring-seeded pulses are harvested, harvest of spring-seeded cereals is beginning on earlier seeded fields, and swathing of canola has begun. While provincial harvest progress for all crops is currently 11 per cent complete, which is 4 per cent behind the 5-year average, the weather forecast suggests clear days over the next two weeks, and harvest is expected to progress rapidly in all areas of the province (Table 1). 

Provincially all crop conditions are currently rated 65 per cent good to excellent, in comparison to the 5-year average of 50 per cent and 10-year average of 54 per cent. The Central Region has the highest proportion of all crops rated as good to excellent condition at 93 per cent, followed by the North West Region at 70 per cent, the South Region at 65 per cent, the North East Region at 61 per cent, and the Peace Region at 27 per cent.

The extended period of rain and cool temperatures, which occurred while crops matured, appears to have been beneficial with multiple surprising reports of yields to the upside. Provincial dryland yields for major crops are reported as 19 per cent above the 5-year average and 11 per cent above the 10 year average; a 4 per cent increase in both indexes from the estimates last reported two weeks ago. Regionally, major crop yields compared to 5-year averages (change from last estimate) are now expected to be 136 (+7) per cent for the South, 145 (+8) per cent for the Central, 99 (0) per cent for the North East, 113 (+3) per cent for the North West, and 95 (+2) per cent for the Peace Regions (Table 2). 

The warm and dry weather conditions have helped to dry fields across the province to the point that they can support machinery, which has helped the recent jump in harvest progress (Table 3). Provincial surface soil moisture is rated as 57 per cent good to excellent this week, which is 13 per cent above the 5-year average, despite being a reduction of 6 per cent from last week. Regional surface soil moisture (weekly change) rated as good to excellent is 44 (-9) per cent for the South, 81 (-8) per cent for Central, 45 (-5) per cent for the North East, 51 (-3) per cent for the North West, and 54 (+3) per cent for the Peace Regions. 

Provincial sub-surface soil moisture has been less impacted by the recent warm weather, with 54 per cent of the province rated as in good to excellent condition. This is ahead of the 5-year average of 42 per cent for this week, and a reduction of 2 per cent from the rating last week. Regional sub-surface soil moisture (weekly change) rated as good to excellent is 42 (-4) per cent for the South, 81 (0) per cent for the Central, 42 (-3) per cent for the North East, 37(+1) per cent for the North West, and 54 (+3) per cent for the Peace Regions.

Provincial tame hay growth conditions mirror those of pasture growth (Table 4). Provincial tame hay growth (5-year average) is rated at 44 (42) per cent good to excellent, a decrease of 1 per cent from last week. Regional ratings are 42 (25) per cent in the South, 77 (45) per cent in the Central, 20 (38) per cent in the North East, 39 (53) per cent in the North West, and 25 (48) per cent in the Peace Regions. With warm temperatures, second cut of dryland hay is ongoing with 21 per cent of second cut complete compared to the 5-year average of 28 per cent for this week. Second cut yields are estimated at 1.3 tons per acre, ahead of the 5-year average of 1 ton per acre.