Southeast producers are swiftly closing in on the finish line as harvest nears completion, with dry conditions speeding up progress and putting them well ahead of typical seasonal benchmarks.
Harvest in the southeast is now 94 per cent complete, ahead of the five-year average of 83 per cent and the 10-year average of 84 per cent.
Most crops have been harvested, including winter wheat, fall rye, barley, triticale, lentils, field peas, and chickpeas. Harvest progress for other spring-seeded cereals is nearly finished, with durum and oats at 98 per cent, spring wheat at 97 per cent, and canary seed at 87 per cent.
Oilseed harvest is also nearing completion, with 96 per cent of mustard off, 91 per cent of canola, and 82 per cent of flax harvested. However, soybean harvest remains slower, with only 47 per cent complete.
The southeast saw only trace amounts of rainfall during the reporting period, leaving conditions dry. The lack of moisture has affected topsoil moisture levels. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 66 per cent adequate, 33 per cent short, and one per cent very short. Hayland topsoil moisture is 51 per cent adequate, 49 per cent short, and three per cent very short. Producers are hoping for increased moisture after harvest to improve conditions for next year.
Kernel weight for some crops has been reported as light, primarily due to the heat in July and August. Yields are lower than expected overall. Spring-seeded cereal crops are estimated at 50 bushels per acre for barley. Canola yields in the region are estimated at 32 bushels per acre, slightly below the provincial average.
Field pea yields for pulse crops are reported at 34 bushels per acre, while lentils are yielding 1,220 pounds per acre. Yields vary throughout the southeast, depending on rainfall, temperature, and pest activity during the growing season.
The quality of hard red spring wheat in the southeast is lower than the provincial average this year. Forty-seven per cent is top grade, 45 per cent is second grade, seven per cent is third grade, and one per cent is feed grade.
As harvest wraps up, less crop damage is being reported. The damage that has occurred is attributed to strong winds, wildlife, and waterfowl. Once harvest is complete, producers will shift focus to cleaning equipment, storing grain, and post-harvest weed control.