BATTLEFORDS - The northwest has now completed five per cent of harvest, ahead of the five-year average of four per cent, according to the crop report for the period of August 15 to 21. Producers in the northwest are monitoring the moisture in their crops in the hopes of getting into the combines again soon.
Fall rye is the most harvested crop, with 94 per cent of the crop in the bin for the year. Producers are also harvesting barley, with seven per cent in the bin for the year. Field peas are 45 per cent complete, and lentils are 70 per cent harvested as well. Very few oilseeds have been harvested yet.
Rain continued to move into the region in scattered showers this week, with the Barthel region receiving 59 mm. Topsoil moisture continues to increase with the rain. Forty-three per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 42 per cent is short, and 15 per cent is very short. Thirty-eight per cent of hay and pastures have adequate topsoil moisture, 44 per cent is short, and 18 per cent is very short.
Pastures are in fair (33 per cent) to poor (40 per cent) condition. The majority of forage acres were cut or baled this year, with only two per cent of acres going unharvested due to drought.
Crop damage this past week is due to excess moisture and grasshoppers. Producers are busy desiccating crops and monitoring crop maturity. Producers are also noting geese beginning to fly south for the winter.
