HUMBOLDT — Despite scattered showers causing some delays to harvest over the past week, harvest progressed within the region.
Currently 22 per cent of the crop is harvested within the region which is ahead of the five-year average of 20 per cent and the 10-year average of 16 per cent. As producers continue with harvest in the region, they are also busy swathing, desiccating, baling straw, hauling bales and will be monitoring bins in the coming weeks. The risk of fire is a concern within the region.
Harvest progress by crop is quite variable throughout the region. Currently fall rye is 51 per cent harvested and winter wheat is 43 per cent combined with an additional 23 per cent indicated as not being harvested due to other damage and/or challenges. Additionally, durum is five per cent combined with an additional 58 per cent indicated as not being harvested due to other damage and/or challenges. Barley is 51 per cent harvested, spring wheat is 17 per cent, oats are 16 per cent and canary seed sits at two per cent harvested within the region. Field peas are reported to be 83 per cent harvested with lentils at 61 per cent harvested. For oilseed crops, canola is eight per cent harvested and flax is sitting six per cent complete. Producers are reporting other damage and/or challenges associated with mustard harvest within the region at this time.
Estimated crop yields vary throughout the region with areas reporting poorer yields to other areas reporting average yields to slightly better than expected yields. Overall, producers are indicating that the increased heat experienced throughout the growing season negatively impacted yield and quality for various crops. Producers estimate 55 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 99 bushels per acre for oats, 76 bushels per acre for barley, 42 bushels per acre for canola, 45 bushels per acre for field peas and 1,745 pounds per acre for lentils. A full summary of estimated crop yields for all regions can be viewed in the attached estimated crop yields table.
Scattered rain fell throughout the region with some areas receiving no rainfall. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Tisdale area at 35 mm. The Arborfield area received 27 mm, the Hague area received 20 mm and the Star City area received 19 mm over the past week.
Topsoil moisture fell within the region this week. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 48 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and five per cent very short. Hayland is rated as 44 per cent adequate, 48 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent adequate, 54 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Producers are hopeful for rain following harvest to help replenish soil moisture conditions, assist with pasture growth and mitigate fire risk moving into the fall.
Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to wind. Crop lodging has caused some challenges for producers while combining which has slowed harvest progress in some areas. Minor crop damage was reported from migratory birds and grasshoppers.
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