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 Producers were only able to get back into their fields for a couple of days during the past week thanks to sporadic rain and other poor harvesting conditions. 

In their Oct. 6 weekly crop report, the Agriculture Ministry agriculture specialists said that about 80 per cent of the this year’s crop has been combined and 14 per cent swathed or ready to be straight-cut. The five-year average for this time of year is 86 per cent combined. 

On a regional scale, this area of the province was rated as being further along in harvest operations with 88 per cent of the crop in the bin. In the southwest corner of the province, they are at 81 per cent, heading into the third week of October. 

The east-central region producers had about 77 per cent of their crop harvested while 73 per cent reported a successful conclusion to their harvest operations in the west-central area while 78 per cent they were done in the northwestern and northeastern regions. 

Most of the lentil crops have been brought in (95 per cent) and 74 per cent of the drum crop has been harvested along with 79 per cent for spring wheat. The canola harvest is about 77 per cent done while only 43 per cent of the flax crop has been combined.

Rain set in on the weekend of Oct. 7-9 and was fairly general throughout the province with the areas in west-central and northwestern regions receiving less than the others. Significant precipitation over the past two weeks in many areas brought a lot of operations to a halt. The largest amount of rainfall, around 91 mm was reported around Hazenmore. The Redvers and Tantallion area reported receiving 76 mm. Carnduff reported 60 mm while Broadview got 57 mm. Climax and Shaunavon in the southwest area received 70 mm while Langenburg, Dinsmore and Biggar received between 34 and 41 mm.

Some areas also received some significant snowfall in the latter part of the first week of October. 

Spring wheat grades are below the 10-year average and are being reported as 10 per cent 1 CW, 50 per cent at 2 CW, 28 per cent 3 CW and 12 per cent CW feed. 

Yield estimates have not change much from the previous month and remain average to above average for most crops. Winter wheat, oats, canola and soybean yield estimates have increased slightly, while mustard and chickpea yields have decreased a bit. 

Provincially, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 27 per cent surplus and 73 per cent adequate. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 17 per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and four per cent short. 

Many regions are indicating more than half of the cropland has surplus topsoil moisture. 

Strong winds and floods caused the majority of the crop damage this year which has resulted in crop yield and quality loss. Bleaching and sprouting along with fusarium are causing grade loss. 

Many producers who have completed the majority of their harvest operations are continuing with weed control projects.