Harvest operations are ongoing in the southeast region, with about 52 per cent of the crop combined in this corner of the province, and 74 per cent in crop district 2A, which is the area around Weyburn, and 57 per cent in district 3ASE, which encompasses Lake Alma and Radville areas.
Provincially the harvest is 38 per cent combined and 38 per cent swathed or ready to be straight-cut, according to the crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture.
The harvest operations were delayed by rain showers before warm dry weather returned to the region just prior to the weekend. The RM of Tecumseh in the Stoughton area received 29 mm of rain, while the RM of Brokenshell saw 17 mm, Wellington had 15 mm, Francis received 11.5 mm, Laurier had rainfall ranging from 14 to 18.4 mm, and The Gap had 14 mm of rain.
Grades of durum wheat crops in the southeast are estimated at three per cent as No. 1 CWAD, 16 per cent as No. 2, 31 per cent as No. 3, and 50 per cent as No. 4 and 5.
For peas, 25 per cent is graded as No. 1, 66 per cent as No. 2 and nine per cent as No. 3. Lentils are estimated at seven per cent as No. 1, 54 per cent as No. 2, 34 per cent as No. 3 and five per cent as sample grade.
Producers have reported that downgrading of crops has occurred due to fusarium, bleaching and sprouting.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 11 per cent surplus, 86 per cent adequate and three per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as right per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate and nine per cent short. Moisture conditions vary greatly across the region.
Broken down by crops, the harvest progress in the southeast region is as follows.
Winter wheat and fall rye are both 99 per cent combined, with field peas 96 per cent combined and lentils 84 per cent combined with six per cent still standing and nine per cent ready to straight combine.
Spring wheat is 51 per cent combined with 22 per cent still standing, 11 per cent in swath and 16 per cent ready to straight combine, and 45 per cent of durum crops are combined with 33 per cent still standing, five per cent in swath and 17 per cent ready to straight combine.
Barley is 63 per cent combined with 16 per cent still standing, 12 per cent in swath and seven per cent ready to straight combine. Oats are 55 per cent combined with 20 per cent still standing, 18 per cent in swath and three per cent ready to straight combine.
Canaryseed is 16 per cent combined with 53 per cent still standing, and 31 per cent ready to straight combine. Canola and mustard are both 40 per cent combined, with nine per cent of canola and 24 per cent of mustard still standing, 42 per cent of canola in swath and 31 per cent of mustard ready to straight combine.
The crops just starting to be harvested are chickpeas, with 97 per cent still standing, and flax with 81 per cent still standing, eight per cent combined and eight per cent ready to straight combine.
