ASSINIBOIA — The Southwest continues to lead harvest progress this week with 44 per cent of this year’s crop harvested, as they largely missed most of the storms experienced by the rest of the province.
This year’s progress is slightly ahead of the five-year average of 43 per cent. As the conditions remained dry in the region once again this year, producers hope that they can finally receive rain as we get closer to the fall.
Producers wrapped up their fall cereal harvest this past week with 100 per cent of winter wheat and 93 per cent of fall rye harvested this year. Seven per cent of fall rye was harvested for feed. Field peas and lentils continue to lead pulse harvest progress, with 87 per cent of peas and 86 per cent of lentils harvested. Mustard continues to lead oilseed progress, with 55 per cent of this year’s crop in the bin. Thirty-two per cent of canola has been harvested so far. With the fall cereals and pulse crops mostly harvested, producers are focusing on harvesting spring seeded cereals. Forty-eight per cent of durum, 42 per cent of spring wheat, 54 per cent of barley and 25 per cent of oats have been harvested for the year; additionally, 22 per cent of oats have been harvested as feed.
The region as a whole did not receive widespread rains but most of the eastern half of the region received precipitation as thunderstorms rolled across from Alberta to Manitoba. The Aneroid area received 31 mm, the Spring Valley area 26 mm and the Caron area 22 mm over the past week. The rainfall did little to improve the overall topsoil moisture conditions in the region. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 36 per cent short and 58 per cent very short. Hayland is rated as one per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 58 per cent very short. Lastly pastures are rated as two per cent adequate, 40 per cent short and 58 per cent very short.
Crop damage this week is primarily due to continued drought stress along with heavy rain and hail that decimated crops; heavy winds also pushed down crops and blew away swaths. Producers are busy combining, desiccating and hauling water and feed for livestock. Many producers are hoping for long, slow fall rains once the rest of the crop is off.
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