The east central region of the province is playing catchup with this year’s harvest, but relatively dry weather during the week of August 27 to September 2 has done much to move the process along.
The weekly crop report from the Ministry of Agriculture for the week shows that harvest in the region is at 38 per cent completion. All told, harvest was nearing the halfway point in the week with 42 percent in the bin province wide. That’s ahead of the five-year average of 34 per cent.
Leading the way for completion is the southwest region with 73 per cent done. The southeast is also ahead of the game with 47 per cent. The east central area follows with 38 per cent and west central is right behind at 31 percent. The northeast region, which has seen considerable moisture through the harvest season, has advanced to 22 percent harvested, while the northwest sits at 19 percent complete.
The report says that winter cereals are nearing completion with 94 per cent of fall rye and 93 per cent of winter wheat harvested. Pulse crops have also substantially increased in harvest completion with 92 per cent of lentils and 90 per cent of field peas harvested.
Regionally, producers also indicate large variations in yield from field to field due to the scattered rainfall amounts received throughout the growing season. The current estimated averages of crop yields are 45 bushels per acre for hard red spring wheat, 33 bushels per acre for durum, 75 bushels per acre for oats, 63 bushels per acre for barley, 34 bushels per acre for canola, 36 bushels per acre for field peas and 1,317 pounds per acre for lentils.
Rainfall was variable throughout the province with many areas reporting reduced rainfall amounts over the past week apart from the west-central region which received the highest rainfall. The Marsden area reported the highest amount of rainfall for the week at 60 mm followed by the Neilburg area at 57 mm. The Macklin and Unity areas received 50 mm over the past week.
Most east central regions are showing adequate topsoil moisture, but the situation is variable across the province. Provincially, Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as 40 per cent adequate, 38 per cent short and 22 per cent very short. Hayland is rated as 34 per cent adequate, 39 per cent short and 27 per cent very short.
A post-harvest rainfall would be welcome to replenish moisture and reduce fire risk.