BATTLEFORDS - With 93 per cent of the crop in the bin, producers are nearing the end of the 2023 crop season, according to the crop report for the period of September 26 to October 2. A dry spring allowed producers to finish up seeding much earlier than normal has also allowed harvest to be completed at an accelerated pace. However, not much crop was harvested in the past week due to rainy, cool weather making the crop tough and damp.
A wide range of precipitation was reported this past week. Most of the rain received was between ten mm to 20 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 44 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 16 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 39 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 20 per cent very short.
Hard Red Spring Wheat is rated as 65 per cent 1CW, 33 per cent 2CW and two per cent 3CW. Grain quality remains very high in the region, even though precipitation has been higher than other regions in the last portion of the growing season.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to wind, wildlife and waterfowl. Wind has been blowing swaths around but has also helped to dry some of the crop in the field. Producers are busy combining, drying grain and moving bales.
