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Producers now have four per cent of the 2015 crop combined and five per cent swathed or ready to straight-cut, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture’s Weekly Crop Report.

Sixty-two per cent of fall rye, 34 per cent of winter wheat, 19 per cent of field peas and 17 per cent of lentils are now in the bin.  Six per cent of canola and three per cent of mustard are swathed.  Warm and relatively dry conditions are helping crops develop quickly.

Rainfall this past week ranged from trace amounts to more than three inches in some areas.  Provincially, topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 10 per cent surplus, 72 per cent adequate, 17 per cent short and one per cent very short.  Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent surplus, 66 per cent adequate, 26 per cent short and four per cent very short.

Haying continues as time and weather permit.  The estimated average dryland hay yields—with the five-year average in parentheses—are as follows: alfalfa – 0.9 (1.72) tons per acre; alfalfa/brome hay – 1.1 (1.72) tons per acre; other tame hay 0.8 (1.4) tons per acre; wild hay – 0.8 (1.26) tons per acre; and greenfeed – 1.4 (2.14) tons per acre.

On irrigated land, the estimated average hay yields—with the five-year average in parentheses—are as follows: alfalfa – 2.6 (2.6) tons per acre; alfalfa/brome hay – 2.9 (2.64) tons per acre; other tame hay 2.6 (3.1*) tons per acre; and greenfeed – 2.8 (3.14) tons per acre.

The Ministry of Agriculture has a Forage, Feed and Custom Service listing for producers to advertise and source feed products.  It is available at www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/FeedForageListing.

Some crop damage was caused by localized flooding, hail, wind and insects such as aphids and diamondback moths.

Farmers are busy with harvest operations.

Follow the 2015 Crop Report on Twitter at @SKAgriculture.

* Four-year average