ASSINIBOIA - Hot, dry weather allowed for great harvest progress and further crop maturity across the southwest region this past week. Producers have made short work of their winter cereals and pulse crops before they move onto their durum, spring wheat and canola crops. The regional harvest progress is now at 45 per cent, well ahead the five-year average of 29 per cent. Unfortunately, many producers in the region are reporting they are seeing far below average yields in areas that struggled with drought conditions once again this year.
63 per cent of the fall rye, 76 per cent of the field peas, 63 per cent of the lentils, 45 per cent of the barley, 31 per cent of the oats, 45 per cent of the durum, 32 per cent of the spring wheat and 17 per cent of the canola is now combined. An additional 14 per cent of the canola has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut.
The southwest region received very little rain this past week and remains extremely dry, as it has all season long. Producers hope once harvest is over that they will receive a long gentle rain that will soak in to recharge the soil moisture. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 26 per cent adequate, 28 per cent short and 46 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 24 per cent adequate, 31 per cent short and 45 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions in the region are rated as seven per cent good, 27 per cent fair, 29 per cent poor and 37 per cent very poor. Pastures have once again suffered through extremely poor growing conditions this year. There are already concerns about availability of feed for livestock during the winter and some producers have started acquiring hay from as far away as Manitoba to ensure they have enough for their animals.
The majority of crop damage this week was due to lack of moisture, wind and grasshoppers. Producers are hoping to finish up harvest as fast as they can in order to save their crops from any further damage.
Farmers are busy moving bales, swathing, combining, hauling water and making room in their bins for harvested crop.
