WEYBURN - With the rain staying out of the southeast for a few days, producers in the region were able to make great progress with harvest, according to the crop report for the period of August 22 to 28. Harvest in the southeast is now 35 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 31 per cent.
Producers in the region have made significant progress in their fall cereals. Winter wheat is now 80 per cent complete and fall rye is 93 per cent complete. Field peas and lentils are also nearing completion, with 82 per cent of field peas and 78 per cent of lentils harvested for the year. Regarding spring seeded cereals; 38 per cent of spring wheat, 41 per cent of durum, 51 per cent of barley and 33 per cent of oats are harvested in the region. Mustard leads oilseed progress, with 49 per cent of the crop in the bin. Ten per cent of canola has been harvested so far.
A few scattered showers made it through the region. The Tantallon area received the most moisture with 27 mm reported. Soil moisture in the region diminished a little this week; 28 per cent of crop land has adequate moisture, 39 per cent is short and 33 per cent is very short. Sixteen per cent of hay and pasture land has adequate moisture, 53 per cent is short and 32 per cent is very short.
Crop damage this past week is mostly due to drought and grasshoppers with some reports of wind damage. Producers are busy with harvest and are working cattle. With the crops coming off quickly, many producers are hoping late season rains will come and replenish soil moisture.