Many west-central Saskatchewan producers are in the heart of harvest. The most recent crop report for the period of August 1-7 was released on Thursday as producers are busy harvesting and checking fields for maturity levels.
"Producers in the west-central (region) have started harvest this week and now have three per cent of this year’s crop off. Those that haven’t started combining are evaluating how soon they can start. While the dry conditions make harvest quick, many producers hope that rain will come as soon as harvest is done." stated the report, as at 4% complete around the province, we are ahead of the five-year and 10-year averages of two per cent.
Locally a focus has been put on getting fall cereals off as those numbers show 28 per cent of fall rye complete, and 64 per cent for winter wheat. The report shared pulses are ripening and progress is being made harvesting field peas and lentils, both with eight per cent harvested. Not a large amount of oilseeds have been harvested with many of those crops still maturing.
Producers are also taking an inventory of their feed stock ahead of the winter with local yields showing the following.
"Hay yields for the region are estimated at 0.7 tons per acre for alfalfa and brome/alfalfa. Other tame hay and wild hay are estimated to yield 0.5 tons per acre, while greenfeed is estimated at 0.9 tons per acre. Under irrigation, hay yields are improved for alfalfa (2.2 tons per acre), brome/alfalfa (2.0 tons per acre), tame hay (2.0 tons per acre) and green feed (1.2 tons per acre). Sileage is estimated to yield 2.5 tons per acre."
The area continues to be a dry one, with the Outlook area receiving the most during the week at 2.2 KM. A storm late last week around west-central Saskatchewan was scattered, and saw around 5 MM fall in Kindersley specifically. Trace amounts of rain is nothing new for most of the area, as coupled with the hot temperatures, the situation led to another decrease in topsoil moisture.
"Currently, six per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 37 per cent is short and 56 per cent is very short. Hay and pasture land is also further diminished, three per cent has adequate topsoil moisture, 31 per cent is short and 67 per cent is very short."
The week's crop damage was mostly due to drought factors and grasshoppers. Once harvest is over many field could use a wet fall to help things overall when it comes to soil moisture levels, but also to help control the grasshopper population.