YORKTON - Crops are quickly ripening after a week of hot, dry weather. Producers are actively harvesting or swathing crops as they become ready and harvest is becoming more general in the region.
Harvest progress is now at 27 per cent, up from nine per cent last week and very close to the five-year average of 29 per cent. Many producers in crop district 6A have nearly completed their harvest operations due to experiencing drier conditions than producers further east. Crop yields in the region are very good with most crops yielding average or better.
There was no precipitation reported in the region this past week. Producers are saying their soils are drying out fast and they hope a good rain will arrive after harvest. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 52 per cent adequate, 34 per cent short and 13 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 46 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 14 per cent very short.
Wind has been an issue as it has blown around swathed crops such as spring wheat and canola, producers hope they can pick up the swaths before more wind lowers their yield potential. Grasshoppers have become a larger issue for producers in the region as they move out of areas that have been harvested to fields with standing crops. There have been multiple combine or stubble fires in the drier parts of the region, but damage was minimal since producers are taking every precaution they can.
Producers are busy combining, swathing, moving cattle and hauling bales.
