THE BATTLEFORDS — Recent moisture caused some delays to harvest over the past week. Currently 19 per cent of the crop is harvested within the region. This is ahead of the five-year average of 16 per cent and the 10-year average of 13 per cent. As producers continue with harvest in the region, they are also busy swathing, desiccating, baling straw, hauling bales and will be monitoring bins in the coming weeks.
Harvest progress by crop is variable throughout the region. Winter wheat harvest within the region is complete with fall rye sitting at 63 per cent harvested. Lentils are 82 per cent harvested followed by field peas at 81 per cent harvested within the region. Thirty-two per cent of barley is harvested, durum is 28 per cent harvested with indications of being all harvested for feed, oats are 22 per cent harvested and spring wheat is 20 per cent harvested. For oilseed crops, flax is reported to be seven per cent harvested and canola is four per cent harvested. No mustard is reported to be harvested within the region. Harvest percentages reported include per cent of crop harvested as feed.
Estimated crop yields vary throughout the region with areas reporting poorer yields that didn’t receive adequate moisture. Additionally, hail caused extensive crop loss in some areas within the region. Overall, producers are indicating that the increased heat and lack of moisture experienced throughout the growing season negatively impacted yield and quality for various crops. Producers estimate 46 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 68 bushels per acre for oats, 65 bushels per acre for barley, 35 bushels per acre for canola, 37 bushels per acre for field peas and 1,476 pounds per acre for lentils. A full summary of estimated crop yields for all regions can be viewed in the attached estimated crop yields table.
Rain fell throughout the region at varying amounts over the past week. The North Battleford area recorded the highest amount at 28 mm followed by the Medstead area at 25 mm. The Livelong area received 24 mm and the Maidstone area received 21 mm over the past week.
Topsoil moisture dropped within the region this week. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 42 per cent adequate, 25 per cent short and 31 per cent very short. Hayland is rated as 33 per cent adequate, 35 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 31 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and 38 per cent very short. Producers are hopeful for rain following harvest to help replenish soil moisture conditions, assist with pasture growth and mitigate fire risk moving into the fall.
Crop damage over the past week was mainly caused by wind and migratory birds. Overall minor crop damage was reported in the region.
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