Farmers in the region have made significant harvest gains over the past week, but persistent rain and frost are keeping overall progress behind the 10-year average, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.
Harvest is currently estimated at 50 per cent complete, up 33 percentage points from the previous week.
This remains behind the five-year average of 62 per cent and the 10-year average of 60 per cent.
Some areas in the region have experienced delays due to rain and frost, which could affect immature crops. Producers are also busy baling straw, hauling bales, and swathing and desiccating some of the later-seeded crops.
Harvest is nearing completion for winter cereals, lentils, field peas, and triticale.
Barley is 62 per cent harvested, durum 59 per cent, oats 51 per cent, spring wheat 46 per cent, and canary seed 15 per cent harvested. Chickpeas are roughly 75 per cent harvested. Among oilseed crops, mustard is the furthest ahead at 32 per cent harvested, followed by canola at 23 per cent and flax at three per cent.
These percentages include crops harvested as feed. Crop yields vary across the southeast, with some areas reporting above-average yields. Producers estimate 55 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 48 for durum, 95 for oats, 66 for barley, 34 for canola, 41 for field peas, and 1,840 pounds per acre for lentils.
Significant precipitation was recorded in the northern part of the region over the past week, with the Lipton, Langenburg, and Moosomin areas reporting the most.
Topsoil moisture was largely maintained compared with the previous week due to the rainfall. Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated 58 per cent adequate, 37 per cent short, and five per cent very short. Hayland is rated 40 per cent adequate, 56 per cent short, and four per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated 39 per cent adequate, 58 per cent short, and three per cent very short.
The need for additional rainfall continues to help replenish soil moisture levels and improve declining pasture conditions.
Crop damage reported over the past week was primarily caused by wind, frost, and dry conditions. Producers have also noted increased damage from wildlife and migratory birds, although overall crop losses were limited.