ASSINIBOIA - Combines continued to roll across the southwest this week and producers made great harvest progress, according to the crop report for the period of August 8 to 14. The southwest is 19 per cent complete harvest this week, ahead of the five-year average of 15 per cent. Producers are hoping for widespread, slow, soaking rains once the crops are off.
Fall cereals continue to be the primary crop harvested this past week, with 38 per cent of fall rye and 26 per cent of winter wheat now harvested. Great progress in harvesting barley was made this week as well; 40 per cent of barley has been harvested, including five per cent of the crop destined for feed. Forty-eight per cent of field peas and forty per cent of lentils are also some of the most harvested crops this week. The region also has 11 per cent of mustard in the bin for the year.
Pockets of rain moved through the region and provided scattered moisture. Eyebrow received the most rain, with 21 mm recorded this week. Five per cent of crop land has adequate topsoil moisture, 40 per cent is short and 55 per cent is short.
Hay and pasture land is very similar, where five per cent has adequate moisture, 45 per cent is short and 50 per cent is very short. Many producers are experiencing moderate water shortages and those that currently are not, anticipate will be encountering similar challenges soon. Water quality is a concern in the region.
Crop damage this past week is due to drought stress and grasshoppers. Producers are busy desiccating, swathing and harvesting crops while also working livestock and preparing for fall operations.
