ASSINIBOIA - Producers were able to make significant progress in their harvest activities due to hot dry weather that helped dry down crops further and allow for nonstop harvesting. Eighty-three per cent of the crop has now been combined, up from 67 per cent last week and well ahead of the five-year average of 63 percent. Unfortunately, one of the main reasons why harvest is going so quickly is due to poorer crop quality. Many producers are combining short, thin crops with very low yields. Crop yield estimates for the region are half of the provincial estimated averages. Due to the crop suffering through another very dry season, there are reports that grain is being downgrading due to low kernel weights.
The southwest did not receive any rain this past week. Livestock producers are getting more and more nervous about their water supply on-farm and on their pastures. After harvest is completed — this region needs large, widespread rain to replenish both the topsoil and subsoil moisture in fields and pastures.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as four per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 55 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as 38 per cent short and 62 per cent very short.
Strong winds have blown swaths around and have shelled out some standing crops. There are indications that there will be fewer winter cereal acres seeded this fall than normal due to the extremely dry field conditions. Grasshoppers have eaten all they can and can be seen across fields, roads, ditches and farmyards looking for anything to eat.
Producers are busy combining, swathing and moving bales and cattle.
