Harvesting across Alberta this fall is far ahead of the 5-year average.

The latest Alberta crop report estimated that 88 percent of crops have now been harvested.

But again, as those numbers were tallied about a week ago, it’s very likely that number is much higher.

Long-time crops specialist Harry Brook was already suggesting late last week that more than 95 percent was done, and given the ideal harvesting weather this past weekend, things might be pretty much wrapped up for the season.

The five-year average for this time of year is about 57 percent complete.

But one of the reasons the harvest was done so early this year is because it’s so dry.

In some parts of Alberta, it hasn’t rained all the much since the end of July.

According to the latest report, there’s no longer any region that had excessive moisture.

Right now, soil moisture is good in the Peace river region, central regions are about 32 percent but in the south it’s only 11 percent.