YORKTON - Producers were able to get into the fields this week and make great harvest progress, according to the weekly crop report for the period of August 15 to 21. The east-central is now 12 per cent harvested, ahead of the five-year average of nine per cent. Producers now wait for the crops to dry up again after receiving moisture this week.
Harvest of fall cereals is nearing completion for the region, 90 per cent of fall rye and 72 per cent of winter wheat are now harvested for the year. In spring cereals, producers have made the most progress with their barley crops, with 21 per cent now in the bin. Field peas (59 per cent) and lentils (53 per cent) are the most harvested pulse crops. Producers have three per cent of the region’s canola in the bin for the year, ahead of other oilseeds.
Pockets of rain moved through the region this week, with Kenaston receiving 46 mm. The region’s topsoil moisture continued to improve this week, and producers are reporting 44 per cent of crop land has adequate moisture, while 43 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land is similar, with 37 per cent having adequate moisture, 43 per cent short and 19 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are generally fair (39 per cent) to poor (41 per cent). The majority of forage acres were cut or baled this year, with only two per cent left unharvested due to drought conditions.
Crop damage this past week is due to wind, grasshoppers and drought stress. Producers are busy monitoring grain moisture, fixing machinery and combining when able. Producers are also hauling water and feed for livestock.
