ESTEVAN — Harvest has begun for many producers in the southeast as the hot temperatures and limited rainfall are causing crops to rapidly mature.
Harvest is currently 11 per cent complete in the southeast, which is above the six per cent provincial average. Harvest progress in this region is also ahead of the four per cent five-year average and five per cent 10-year average.
Fall rye leads the way for harvest progress as 64 per cent is now in the bin. Winter wheat progress is significantly behind fall rye with 18 per cent combined so far. Producers are making good progress with pulse crops as 41 per cent of field pea, 31 per cent of chickpea, and 29 per cent of lentil crops have been harvested. Durum leads the way for spring seeded cereal crops as 18 per cent of durum harvest is complete, followed closely by oats at 12 per cent and barley at 10 per cent. Very few oilseed acres have been harvested as merely one per cent of canola harvest is complete, but progress will pick up in the coming weeks.
There was very little rainfall for much of the southeast during this period, with only a few scattered showers taking place. The Carnduff area received 27 mm of rain, which was the most in this region. The Saltcoats area received the second highest rainfall with 17 mm. The limited rainfall in the region affected cropland topsoil moisture, which is currently 29 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 27 per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 27 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 31 per cent very short. Finally, pasture topsoil moisture is 21 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 39 per cent very short.
Livestock water supplies are being impacted by the recent dry conditions. There are concerns amongst producers of algae bloom in water sources due to the hot and dry environment. Moderate shortages are reported in 34 per cent of livestock water sources, 17 per cent of sources are estimated to be short within the next two months and 49 per cent are not expected to be short in the coming months. Eighty-three per cent of livestock producers in the region are not concerned about water shortages in the future and 17 per cent of producers have water security concerns.
Crop damage in the southeast during the period was mainly due to lack of moisture and heat. Wind, sclerotinia and grasshopper damage were also reported in the last week.
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