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ESTEVAN — Despite precipitation causing harvest delays over the past week, harvest has progressed to 83 per cent complete within the region. This is up from the 77 per cent reported last week. This is ahead of the five-year average of 77 per cent and the 10-year average of 76 per cent.

As producers work to complete harvest within the region, they are also busy with spraying for fall weed control, harrowing, baling, hauling bales, cleaning corrals and fencing. Additionally, some producers have started their winter cereal seeding operations.

Harvest is complete for winter wheat, triticale, lentils, field peas and chickpeas within the region with fall rye nearing harvest completion. Durum leads harvest progress for spring-seeded cereal crops with 95 per cent complete followed by barley at 94 per cent and spring wheat and oats both sitting at 90 per cent completion. Canary seed is currently 68 per cent complete within the region. For oilseed crops, mustard is 91 per cent complete followed by canola at 67 per cent and flax at 59 per cent. Soybeans are the furthest behind at 33 per cent complete.

Rain fell throughout the region over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Whitewood area at 69 mm followed by the Belle Plaine area at 62 mm. The Strasbourg and Saltcoats areas both received 52 mm and the Regina area received 50 mm.

The recent moisture has helped improve topsoil moisture conditions and green up pastures within the region. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 22 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hayland is rated as one per cent surplus, 67 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and four per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 27 per cent short and four per cent very short. Producers are hopeful for more precipitation following harvest to assist with replenishing depleted topsoil moisture.

As producers evaluate livestock water supplies, 69 per cent indicate that there are no shortages occurring or anticipated with 26 per cent indicating moderate shortages are occurring and five per cent are anticipating a shortage depending on conditions throughout the fall. Additionally, 87 per cent of producers reported no concerns presently with water quality for their livestock.

Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to wind, waterfowl and wildlife with minor to moderate damage reported. Grasshoppers are still present within the region as well but with overall minor damage being reported. Producers indicate that the recent rain has caused further challenges for lodged crops, along with concerns for reduced crop quality of unharvested crops within the region.

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