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YORKTON — Harvest progressed throughout the region over the past week with 46 per cent of this year’s crop harvested. This is ahead of the five-year average of 25 per cent and the 10-year average of 34 per cent.

As producers continue with harvest, they are also busy with baling straw, hauling bales, and swathing and desiccating some of the later seeded crops.

Harvest is complete for winter wheat within the region with fall rye, lentils and field peas nearing completion. Durum is 79 per cent harvested, barley is 62 per cent harvested, spring wheat is 54 per cent harvested, oats are 38 per cent harvested, and canary seed has limited harvest progress reported. Mustard is the furthest advanced at 25 per cent harvested for oilseed crops, followed by canola at 16 per cent and flax at six per cent. Harvest percentages reported include crop harvested as feed.

Within the region, some producers indicate that combined crops are of good quality while others indicate that the size and bushel weights are below normal. Pea grades are reported to be 55 per cent at 1 CAN with 44 per cent at 2 CAN and one per cent at 3 CAN. Lentil grades are mainly 1 CAN at 72 per cent with 28 per cent at 2 CAN. Durum grade quality is reported mainly at 1 CW for the region. Quality for barley is reported at 35 per cent malt, 47 per cent 1 CW and 18 per cent 2 CW/sample.

Limited precipitation fell throughout much of the region over the past week. The highest amount was reported in the Wadena area at four mm followed by the Hyas area at three mm. All other areas received less rainfall over the past week with many areas receiving no precipitation.

Topsoil moisture continues to decline within the region due to the lack of moisture and increased temperatures. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated 49 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and four per cent very short. Hayland is rated as 34 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 24 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 28 per cent adequate, 47 per cent short and 25 per cent very short. Producers are hopeful for larger amounts of precipitation following harvest to help replenish soil moisture levels along with improve pasture conditions.

Over the past week, crop damage was mainly due to wind along with migratory birds. Producers have also indicated that grasshoppers have caused up to moderate damage in some isolated areas of the region.

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