ASSINIBOIA - Producers in the southwest continue to make swift progress of harvest and are leading the province with 38 per cent complete, according to the crop report for the period of August 15 to 21. This is ahead of the five-year average of 32 per cent.
Producers in the region are nearing the completion of the fall cereal harvest, with 89 per cent of fall rye and 54 per cent of winter wheat harvested. The region also has 50 per cent of barley off for the year. The region has 38 per cent of the mustard crop in the bin and is leading the province in canola harvest progress with 13 per cent complete. Field peas are 76 per cent harvested and 53 per cent of lentils are harvested.
Parts of the southwest received significant moisture this past week, with the Cabri area receiving 52 mm. This rain led to an increase in topsoil moisture, with 11 per cent of crop land having adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and 41 per cent is very short. Eleven per cent of hay and pastures have adequate moisture, 39 per cent is short and 50 per cent is very short.
Pastures in the southwest had little reprieve this summer and are in poor (41 per cent) to very poor (38 per cent) condition. The drought conditions forced producers to leave 19 per cent of forage acres unharvested for the year.
Crop damage this past week is due to grasshoppers and drought stress. Producers are busy monitoring moisture content in soon to be harvested fields, combining when appropriate and desiccating crops. Producers are also hauling water and working livestock.
