Outlook - Harvest is over for many producers in the region, while others have a little bit more to finish up before they can move into fall field activities. Currently, 80 per cent of the crop has now been combined, up from 61 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average of 67 per cent. Harvest will hopefully wrap up soon so producers can receive precipitation without any delay to field activities.
No precipitation this past week has again continued the downward trend of topsoil moisture in the region and there are concerns of fire hazards in the field. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 19 per cent adequate, 46 per cent short and 35 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 16 per cent adequate, 42 per cent short and 42 per cent very short. Livestock producers are struggling to hold their cattle on pastures to reserve their hay bales for the cold months ahead.
Durum grades in the region are currently being estimated as 59 per cent 1 CW, 30 per cent 2 CW, seven per cent 3 CW and four per cent 4 and 5 CW. Pea grades are estimated as 43 per cent 1 CAN, 55 per cent 2 CAN and three per cent 3 CAN. Lentil grades are estimated to be 35 per cent 1 CAN, 63 per cent 2 CAN and two per cent 3 CAN.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to wind and drought. Winds have been blowing swaths around and shelling out crops. Grasshoppers are still a pest, but with harvest finishing up and the potential for frost in the coming weeks, the grasshopper issue will be over until next year.
Producers are busy combining, baling straw and moving cattle home and beginning to bale feed them.
