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UNITY — Despite scattered rainfall causing harvest delays in the region over the past week, harvest was still able to progress. Currently, 70 per cent of harvest is complete which is up from the 63 per cent reported last week. This is behind both the five-year average of 81 per cent and the 10-year average of 71 per cent.

Harvest is complete for winter cereals, triticale, and field peas within the region with lentil harvest wrapping up. Barley leads harvest progress for spring-seeded cereal crops with 88 per cent complete, followed by durum at 82 per cent, spring wheat at 79 per cent and oats at 76 per cent. Canary seed is currently 64 per cent complete. For oilseed crops, mustard is 78 per cent harvested followed by canola at 53 per cent and flax at 20 per cent harvested. Soybeans currently sit at 40 per cent harvested within the region.

Rain fell throughout the region in varying amounts over the past week. The highest rainfall recorded fell in the Conquest area at 73 mm, followed by the Macrorie area at 70 mm. The Netherhill area received 63 mm, the Dinsmore area received 60 mm and the Battleford area received 52 mm.

The recent precipitation has improved pastures and topsoil moisture conditions within the region. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 62 per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and two per cent very short. Hayland is rated as 55 per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and four per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 54 per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and five per cent very short. Producers are hopeful for more precipitation following harvest to further assist with replenishing topsoil moisture within the region.

As producers monitor livestock water supplies moving into the fall, 48 per cent indicate that there are no shortages occurring or anticipated with 44 per cent indicating moderate shortages are occurring, four per cent are anticipating a shortage depending on conditions throughout the fall and four per cent are reporting severe and widespread shortages are already occurring. Additionally, 78 per cent of producers reported no concerns at the present time with water quality for their livestock.

Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to wind, gophers and grasshoppers but with overall minor damage reported. Additionally, a few producers report excessive moisture in localized areas throughout the region. The recent rain has also caused concerns for reduced quality of unharvested crops within the region.

Producers are also busy with spraying for fall weed control, harrowing, baling, hauling bales, cleaning corrals and fencing.

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