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ESTEVAN — Producers made significant harvest progress within the region over the past week. Harvest currently sits at 65 per cent complete, is up from the 47 per cent last week. This is ahead of both the five- and 10-year average of 55 per cent.

Producers are also busy with baling straw, hauling bales and swathing and desiccating some of the later seeded crops. Some producers have completed harvest and are starting fall field work which includes harrowing and post-harvest weed spraying.

Harvest is nearly complete within the region for winter cereals, lentils and field peas. Durum is 88 per cent harvested, barley is 83 per cent harvested, spring wheat and triticale are both 67 per cent harvested, oats are 65 per cent harvested, and canary seed sits at 30 per cent harvested. Chickpeas are estimated to be 81 per cent harvested. Mustard is the furthest advanced at 83 per cent harvested for oilseed crops, followed by flax at 36 per cent and canola at 35 per cent harvested. Harvest percentages reported include crop harvested as feed. A full summary of individual crop harvest progress for all regions can be viewed in the attached harvest progress table.

Producers have expressed some concern with crop quality in the region due to lighter bushel weights and smaller seed size for various crops. Pea grades are mainly 2 CAN at 62 per cent with 28 per cent at 1 CAN and 10 per cent at 3 CAN. Similarly, lentil grades are mainly 2 CAN at 60 per cent with 31 per cent at 1 CAN and nine per cent at 3 CAN. Durum grade quality is reported at 24 per cent 1 CW, 40 per cent 2 CW, 23 per cent 3 CW and 13 per cent grading as other. Quality for barley is reported at 25 per cent malt, 54 per cent 1 CW and 21 per cent 2 CW/sample.

Limited precipitation fell throughout much of the region over the past week. The highest amount was reported in the Wilcox area at 6 mm followed by the Southey area at five mm. All other areas received less than three mm over the past week with the majority of areas receiving no precipitation.

Topsoil moisture continued to decline in the region due to the lack of moisture and increased temperatures. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 53 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hayland is rated as one per cent surplus, 38 per cent adequate, 50 per cent short and 11 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 35 per cent adequate, 52 per cent short and 12 per cent very short. There is a significant need for large amounts of precipitation throughout the region to help replenish soil moisture levels along with improving declining pasture conditions.

Over the past week, crop damage was mainly due to wind along with migratory birds. Producers have also noted that grasshopper pressure has been increasing but limited crop damage was reported.

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