WEYBURN - Harvest was delayed in some areas of the region by small showers and high humidity, while other parts of the region saw ideal harvesting conditions. The region has 74 per cent of its crop in the bin, up from 65 per cent last week but still behind the five-year average of 82 per cent. Producers are hoping that the weather remains favourable in the coming weeks so that harvest can be completed soon. Some producers are dealing with green heads in their durum crops and green stems in their canola, which has made passing plant material through the combine difficult.
Although there were several small rainstorms in the region over the past week, most areas received less than 10 mm. The Bienfait area received 36 mm, the Glenavon area 14 mm, the Moosomin and Grenfell areas 10 mm and the Weyburn area five mm. This region could use more rain once harvest is completed.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 61 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and six per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 54 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and seven per cent very short. There aren’t any noted water shortages in the region and producers are not worried about removing cattle from pastures yet. Some are moving cattle to harvested fields to stubble graze before moving them home for the winter. Feed inventories should not be a concern for producers going into the cold months.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to strong winds and wildlife. Wind has continued to blow around swaths and damaging seed heads, resulting in lost yield. The recent rain has also led to grain sprouting in both swathed and standing cereal crops.
Producers are busy harvesting, starting fall field work such as weed control and harrowing, hauling bales, cleaning corrals and moving cattle to stubble fields.
