HUMBOLDT - Crops are slow to ripen across the region with most producers predicting at least one to two weeks before harvest will begin. Some producers may begin to swath their barley in the coming week but that is highly dependent on the weather. Rainy, windy weather has allowed less mature crops to fill with seed but has stopped more mature crops from fully ripening. Producers are hoping that an early season frost or severe hail storm will not occur and damage their crops before they have the chance to begin their harvest operations.
There were some large rainstorms over the past week with many areas receiving between 20-30 mm over the course of a day. The Nipawin area received 62 mm, the Prince Albert area 53 mm and the Humboldt area 29 mm. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as three per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 85 per cent adequate and 15 per cent short.
Hay yields in the region are ranging between one to two tons per acre for dryland with some greenfeed fields yielding up to four tons per acre, but these fields are very isolated. Producers will be able to replenish their feed stocks after having a hard time managing feed during last year’s drought.
There were some reports of crop damage caused by strong winds that accompanied the rainstorms. Lodged crops will result in yield loss, quality downgrading and increase harvesting difficulty.
Farmers are busy wrapping up haying and baling, hauling bales and getting ready for harvest.
