2017 Harvest Update
September 22, 2017
September 22: Harvest of spring cereal crops is advancing ahead of normal this year, with barley almost entirely off in Manitoba, 85% complete in Saskatchewan (5-yr average ~70%) and 70% in Alberta (5-yr average ~60%). Barley yields appear to be on trend this year at around 63 bushels/acre, although this is lower than anecdotal reports would suggest, and is well below the record 73.4 bu/acre average of 2016. Protein content in early samples received by the CMBTC have ranged from 10.3-11.9%. Test weight and plumpness of the barley have been good with generally lighter colour than the past two years. Overall quality is looking is looking positive for the 2017 Canadian malting barley crop. Stats Canada estimated all Canada 2017 barley production at 7.2 mln tonnes in their August 31 report compared with 8.8 mln tonnes last year, a drop of 18%.
