Due to the recent hot and dry weather, harvest is proceeding rapidly across the province. Topsoil moisture conditions have significantly decreased throughout the province with conditions rated at 31 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 25 per cent very short.
With a number of southern and central areas of the province reaching temperatures well above 35 degrees, most crop damage was due to the heat, the lack of moisture and wind. There have been reports of some combine and stubble fires in the drier areas of the region.
In Crop District 2 (Weyburn, Milestone, Moose Jaw, Regina and Qu’Apelle) and Crop District 3ASE (Radville, Minton and Lake Alma areas) eight percent of the crop is now in the bin. This is up three percent from last week.
Many pastures and hay fields are in need of rainfall as the most rainfall in the region and the province hasn’t occurred since April 1 in the Lampman area that received 398 mm.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland for the region are 14 per cent adequate, 68 per cent short, and 18 per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil conditions for the regions are 10 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 39 per cent very short.
For winter wheat in the southeast, 63 per cent is standing, three per cent in swath, 13 per cent ready to straight combine and 21 per cent combined.
Ninety three per cent is standing, two percent swathed, four percent ready to straight combine and one per cent combined for spring wheat.
Rye has eight per cent standing, two per cent swathed, 19 percent ready to straight combine, 53 per cent combined and 18 per cent categorized as other (crops that will not be harvested due to weather, insect or disease damage or will be greenfeed or silage).
Durum is at 85 per cent standing, two per cent in swath, four per cent to be straight combined, and one per cent combined.
Standing at 67 per cent, 12 per cent in swath, 12 per cent ready to straight combine and nine per cent combined is barley.
Oats has the third lowest standing per cent in the province at 89 per cent. Seven per cent is swathed, four percent is combined with no crops ready to straight combine.
Thirty eight per cent is standing, eight per cent in swath, 14 per cent ready to be straight combined and 40 per cent combined for field peas.
Lentils standing at 48 per cent, two per cent in swath, 16 per cent ready to straight combine and 34 per cent combined.
Canaryseed, flax, mustard, soybeans and chickpeas have not started to be harvested.
Producers say that any future rain will be little benefit to crops that are rapidly advancing. However, it would be greatly beneficial for pastures and hay fields.
