Harvest 2024 is in full operation across the Lakeland, but (of course) there’s mixed news. 

Farmers in the area are getting the crop off quickly—but partly because there’s less to harvest, says a local grain marketing consultant.

“It’s been faster than the last few years due to lack of inclement weather so far, but also because there is a smaller crop in general,” said Sarah Davis, owner of Limit Up Grain Marketing.

“July’s heat wave really had an impact on things,” Davis said. “Not a lot of places saw much moisture when we were experiencing those above-30° temperatures. And the temperatures weren’t dropping enough in the evening to give the crops a break, so the yield has suffered because of that.”

Cereals and pulse crops suffered the worst damage, Davis said, and the degree of damage depends on location.

“It’s not across the board. There are spots that are doing very well and there are spots that are suffering more than others,” she said.

As of this past weekend the harvest in northeastern Alberta is about 65 per cent done, she said, with durum and barley over 70 per cent harvested and peas almost completely in the bin.

Canola and flax will need a bit more time yet, with only 20 per cent of the crop harvested.

And of course the price outlook varies by commodity.

Davis says low Chinese demand for Canadian canola and peas will probably keep prices down for the rest of the calendar year at least. While Canada shipped 5.5 million tonnes of canola to China last year, it’s possible we won’t sell any to them at all in 2024 due to an ongoing trade dispute. 

“The price has decreased quite a bit in just a short while here. So while that looks depressing, and the short term outlook isn’t great, I think that we will see better canola prices come the new year,” Davis said. “It’s more of a restructuring of exports that we’re going to see, not a complete shutoff. So canola prices are pretty ugly right now but they will improve, probably, in January 2025.”

She sees a more positive outlook for wheat, although prices are currently in their seasonal low. And pea prices are subject to demand from China and India, which is currently flat.

It’s a tough year for producing malt barley, with a small portion of the barley crop rating as suitable for malt. This may drive prices upward, and Davis said feed barley values are holding at around $5.00 per bushel right now, although that typically comes down when US corn imports start to arrive in November and December.

Although highly variable, Davis says yields in her region—Lloydminster to Bonnyville and the surrounding areas—are typically down by 10 bushels per acre.

Recent rain has kept some producers off the fields for a couple of days, but as she notes, it’s normal to have some weather delays during harvest. The oilseeds shouldn’t be badly affected by the rain, but any cereals still in swaths are at some risk of deterioration.

Most of the peas, wheat, and barley are in the bin. Photos by JEFF GAYE