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Producers in the southeast were making good progress in their fields before large storms completely halted some harvest operations.
According to the Weekly Crop Report from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture for the week of August 20th to 26th, the recent storms have caused delays as well as damage by blowing around swaths, lodging crops and flooding and hailing out crops.
Due to these setbacks, producers have only taken off 28 percent of the crop in the region, up from 21 percent last week, and ahead of the five-year average of 22 percent. Some producers have noted their crops are not yet ready for harvest and are hoping they dry down quickly to avoid any issues heading into September.
Significant progress has been made by area producers in their fall cereals. Winter wheat is now 79 percent, and fall rye is 86 percent in the bin for the year. Field peas and lentils are also nearing completion, with 85 percent of field peas and 73 percent of lentils harvested for the year. Producers are focusing on spring seeded cereals, with 40 percent of durum, 36 percent of oats, 33 percent of barley, and 16 percent of spring wheat now harvested in the region. Mustard leads the oilseed progress, with 53 percent of the crop in the bin. So far, 11 percent of canola has been harvested.
Several heavy downpours in the region over the past week have resulted in crop damage as well as delays. Over the course of the week, the Glenavon area received 94 mm, the Creelman area 76 mm, the Radville area 55 mm, and the Rouleau area 34 mm. The producers with swathed crops have had issues with heavy rain flooding the low lying areas.
Soil moisture in the region has improved due to the rain. Six percent of crop land is rated to have surplus moisture, 70 percent adequate moisture, 19 percent is short, and five percent is very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is rated as 56 percent adequate, 38 percent short and six percent very short. Pasture is rated as 54 percent adequate, 38 percent short and eight percent very short. Producers are hoping the rain holds off until more crops can be taken off their fields.
Crop damage this past week is mostly due to wind, heavy rain and hail damage which saw some crops be completely cut down.
Producers are busy with harvesting and are working cattle. The recent rains will hopefully allow cattle to stay on pasture longer into the fall and reduce the need to provide supplement feed in the form of bales.