HUMBOLDT - A dry week in the northeast has allowed producers to make great harvest progress, according to the crop report for the period of September 19 to 25. The region is now 88 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 59 per cent.
With fall cereals, spring cereals and pulses harvested for the year, many producers are working on their later maturing crops to complete harvest. Oats are 95 per cent complete, canola is 77 per cent complete, canary seed is 63 per cent completed and flax is 25 per cent complete for the year.
The most rain recorded this week was just under three mm in the Vonda area. Despite the minimal moisture, topsoil moisture levels are still adequate. Forty-eight per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and four per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 38 per cent adequate, 55 per cent are short and seven per cent are very short. Although not experiencing shortage currently, producers in the region are anticipating shortages to start occurring if the rain doesn’t return. Producers in the region are also concerned about water quality for their livestock.
Crop damage this week was due to light frosts, wind and waterfowl landing in the standing crops. Producers in the region are currently busy combining, applying post-harvest herbicides and marketing grain. Producers are also marketing cattle, moving cattle home and preparing for winter.