Producers in the southeastern part of Saskatchewan are forging ahead with the harvest season, having completed 20 per cent of the harvest process, according to the weekly crop report. Their progress has been momentarily halted by the recent arrival of rain but the southeast is ahead of the five-year average of 18 per cent. It is slightly behind the provincial mark of 21 per cent.
So far, farmers in the region have harvested 50 per cent of winter wheat and 78 per cent of fall rye. The harvest of barley is also well underway, with 49 per cent already in the bin. Within the realm of pulses, field peas and lentils have shown progress, with 61 per cent of peas and 37 per cent of lentils successfully harvested. Meanwhile, mustard is leading the oilseed category, with 34 per cent having been gathered.
Recent scattered showers have come through the area, bringing relief to parched fields. In one instance, Frobisher received a noteworthy 15 mm of precipitation. The gradual improvement in soil moisture across the region is evident, with 36 per cent of cropland now boasting adequate moisture levels, 33 per cent experiencing a shortage, and 31 per cent being in very short supply. However, the situation remains more challenging for hay and pasture areas, where 16 per cent has sufficient moisture, 44 per cent is lacking, and 40 per cent is facing severe shortages.
Pasture conditions in the southeast vary, with a majority, 54 per cent, classified as being in poor condition. Some pastures are managing to remain in fair condition (24 per cent), indicating the diverse challenges faced by farmers. The majority of forage acres were successfully harvested or baled during the past week, contributing to the overall progress.
The past week saw some setbacks due to factors such as grasshoppers, gophers, and ongoing drought conditions. Farmers have been engaged in activities like machinery repairs, crop desiccation, and moisture level monitoring to address these challenges. Moreover, water hauling and the relocation of animals to alternate pastures have also been undertaken by producers in the region.
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