As many Albertans enjoyed the warm and sunny fall weather, farmers across the province were hard at work, racing against time to harvest their crops before the weather changed. RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation, released a statement praising the farmers for their unwavering dedication to producing high-quality crops that feed families both locally and globally.
“The favourable weather conditions in August and early September allowed for a rapid start to harvest, leading to quick and efficient completion. The final yield estimates show that while the South, North West, and Peace regions were slightly above average, the yields in the Central and North East regions were below average,” stated Minister Sigurdson.
In terms of crop quality, Minister Sigurdson says oats and dry peas have surpassed the five-year average, with a higher percentage grading in the top two categories. However, spring wheat, durum, barley, and canola have not fared as well, grading in the top two categories at rates lower than the five-year average.
Crop grading, which assesses the quality of grain based on factors such as frost damage, colour, moisture content, and sprouting, plays a crucial role in determining how the grain will perform during processing and the quality of the final product.
Minister Sigurdson acknowledged the difficulties faced by farmers over the past years.
“For some areas of the province, 2024 was a difficult growing season. But Alberta producers are innovative and resilient. They work constantly to meet challenges head-on and drive sustainable growth in our agricultural sector,” emphasized Minister Sigurdson.
“Alberta farmers help feed the world, and I’m proud of the reputation for safe, high-quality agricultural products that this industry has built for itself.”
Tap the menu button next to the address bar or at the bottom of your browser.
Select ‘Install’ or ‘Add to Homescreen’ to stay connected.
Share this article on
About the Author
Kara grew up on a grain farm near Bow Island, Alberta. After attending SAIT and the University of Calgary — where she obtained a degree in communication and media studies, and a diploma in broadcast news — Kara began her professional career working in agricultural communications and agricultural journalism. Kara now farms alongside her family and her husband on the family farm, where they raise a mix of livestock, crops, and barn cats.