UNITY — Recent moisture caused some delays to harvest over the past week. Currently, 31 per cent of the crop is harvested within the region. This is behind the five-year average of 38 per cent but falls close to the 10-year average of 32 per cent.
As producers continue with harvest in the region, they are also busy swathing, desiccating, baling straw, hauling bales and will be monitoring bins in the coming weeks. The risk of fire remains high within the region from the persistent drier conditions over the past weeks.
Harvest progress by crop is quite variable throughout the region. Currently fall rye is 82 per cent harvested and winter wheat is 75 per cent harvested, lentils are 87 per cent harvested and field peas are 84 per cent harvested. Harvest is 38 per cent complete for oats, 36 per cent for durum, 33 per cent for barley, 24 per cent for spring wheat and 13 per cent for canary seed. Mustard is the furthest advanced at 30 per cent harvested for oilseed crops, followed by canola at 20 per cent and flax sits at only two per cent harvested. Harvest percentages reported include per cent of crop harvested as feed.
Estimated crop yields vary throughout the region with areas reporting poorer yields to other areas reporting yields that are better than expected. Overall, producers are indicating that the increased heat and drier conditions experienced throughout the growing season negatively impacted yield and quality for various crops. Producers estimate 41 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 37 bushels per acre for durum, 65 bushels per acre for oats, 63 bushels per acre for barley, 36 bushels per acre for canola, 36 bushels per acre for field peas and 1,346 pounds per acre for lentils. A full summary of estimated crop yields for all regions can be viewed in the attached estimated crop yields table.
Rain fell throughout the region over the past week with areas on the west side of the region receiving higher amounts. The Marsden area reported the highest amount of rainfall for the week at 60 mm followed by the Neilburg area at 57 mm. The Macklin and Unity areas received 50 mm over the past week.
The recent moisture has provided temporary relief to further topsoil moisture depletion but overall dry conditions throughout the growing season are still contributing to moisture shortages. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 22 per cent adequate, 56 per cent short and 22 per cent very short. Hayland is rated as 17 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short and 34 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 17 per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 39 per cent very short. Producers are hopeful for rain following harvest to help replenish soil moisture conditions, assist with pasture growth and mitigate fire risk moving into the fall.
Crop damage over the past week was mainly due to the wind. Additionally, grasshoppers continue to cause minor crop damage in some areas within the region.
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