BATTLEFORDS - Producers in the northwest made great harvest progress this week, and the region is now 21 per cent completed harvest for the year, according to the crop report for the period of August 29 to September 4. This is ahead of the five-year average of 17 per cent.
Winter cereals are in the bin for the year, while peas and lentils only have a few acres left. Producers in the area are primarily focusing on getting their spring cereals off for the year. The region has 39 per cent of barley, 26 per cent of spring wheat and nine per cent of oats harvested for the year. Five per cent of canola and eight per cent of flax are in the bin for the year.
Producers’ yield estimates are demonstrating what timely showers can do for a crop. Hard Red Spring Wheat is estimated to yield 48 bu./ac., oats 91 bu./ac. and barley 66 bu./ac. Canola is estimated to yield 40 bu./ac. Lentils in the region are estimated to yield 1,140 lbs./ac. and field peas are estimated to yield 38 bu./ac.
Pockets of moisture moved through the region this week. The Speers area received the most with 31 mm of rain reported. Topsoil moisture remains generally adequate in the region. Forty-seven per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 46 per cent is short and seven per cent is very short. Forty per cent of hay and pastures have adequate topsoil moisture, 47 per cent is short and 13 per cent is very short.
Crop damage this past week is mostly due to a few light frosts, drought conditions and waterfowl stopping in fields during their flights south. Producers in the area are busy swathing, combining and preparing for winter. Livestock producers are also monitoring pasture conditions and are preparing to bring cattle home for the winter.
