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UNITY — Producers made significant harvest progress within the region over the past week. Harvest currently sits at 54 per cent complete which is up from the 31 per cent reported last week.

This aligns with the five-year average of 54 per cent and is ahead of the 10-year average of 48 per cent. As producers continue with harvest in the region, they are also busy with baling straw, hauling bales, hauling grain, along with swathing and desiccating some of the later seeded crops.

Harvest is complete for winter cereals and nearing completion for lentils and field peas. Triticale is 75 per cent harvested, barley is 65 per cent harvested, durum is 59 per cent harvested, spring wheat is 55 per cent harvested, oats are 47 per cent harvested, and canary seed sits at 21 per cent harvested. Mustard is the furthest advanced at 36 per cent harvested for oilseed crops, followed closely by canola at 33 per cent and flax at nine per cent harvested. Harvest percentages reported include crop harvested as feed.

Within the region, many producers indicate reduced quality due to lighter bushel weights and smaller seed size for various crops. Pea grades are reported to be 79 per cent at 2 CAN with 14 per cent at 1 CAN and seven per cent at 3 CAN. Lentil grades are mainly 2 CAN at 86 per cent with 10 per cent at 1 CAN and four per cent at 3 CAN. Durum grade quality is reported at 28 per cent 1 CW, 48 per cent 2 CW, 18 per cent 3 CW and six per cent grading as other. Quality for barley is reported at 32 per cent malt, 52 per cent 1 CW and 16 per cent 2 CW/sample.

Over the past week, limited precipitation fell throughout much of the region. The highest amount was reported in the Marsden area at eight mm followed by the Battleford and Neilburg areas area at four mm. All other areas received less rainfall over the past week with many areas receiving no precipitation.

Topsoil moisture continues to show large shortages in the region due to the lack of moisture and increased temperatures. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated 17 per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. Hayland is rated as eight per cent adequate, 54 per cent short and 38 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as nine per cent adequate, 51 per cent short and 40 per cent very short. A significant amount of precipitation is needed throughout the region to help replenish soil moisture levels and improve declining pasture conditions.

Over the past week, crop damage was mainly due to wind and grasshoppers but with overall minor crop damage reported.

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