ESTEVAN — Producers were able to make considerable harvest progress within the region over the past week.
Currently, harvest is 47 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 36 per cent and the 10-year average of 40 per cent. In addition to combining within the region, producers are busy swathing, baling straw, hauling bales and monitoring bins for heating. Despite moisture received throughout much of the region last week, the risk of fire remains elevated.
Within the region, winter cereals and some pulse crops are nearing harvest completion. Currently winter wheat is 94 per cent harvested, fall rye is 95 per cent harvested, field peas are 98 per cent harvested and lentils are 92 per cent harvested. Harvest is 69 per cent complete for barley, 68 per cent complete for durum, 63 per cent for oats, 39 per cent complete for spring wheat and canary seed sits at 49 per cent complete. Mustard is the furthest advanced at 65 per cent harvested for oilseed crops, followed by canola at 21 per cent and flax at 19 per cent harvested. Harvest percentages reported include per cent of crop harvested as feed. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.
Estimated crop yields vary throughout the region with areas reporting poorer yields to other areas reporting average to above average. Overall, producers are indicating that the increased heat and drier conditions experienced throughout the growing season impacted yield and quality for various crops. Producers estimate 45 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 32 bushels per acre for durum, 79 bushels per acre for oats, 63 bushels per acre for barley, 30 bushels per acre for canola, 32 bushels per acre for field peas and 1,199 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.
Lower rainfall amounts were received this week within the region with some areas reporting no rainfall. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Broadview area at 25 mm followed by the Glenavon area at 22 mm. The MacNutt and Moosomin areas both received 15 mm over the past week and the Alida area received 11 mm.
Topsoil moisture dropped within the region this week. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 64 per cent adequate, 29 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hayland is rated as one per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and nine per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 44 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 12 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.
Over the past week, crop damage was mainly due to the wind. Minor crop damage was reported from migratory birds and grasshoppers.
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