More crop is in the bin as 68 percent of harvest has been completed.

It’s ahead of the 5-year average of 52 percent as well as the 10-year average of 48 percent.

Farmers in the southwest are almost done at 93 percent, the west-central 78 percent, east-central 54 percent, northeast 55 percent, and the northwest 39 percent.

Crops Extension Specialist MacKenzie Hladun says spring cereal crops have been the focus, but other types have seen good progress.

All fall cereal crops have been harvested; lentils and peas are almost done at 96 percent each in the bin, and 78 percent of chickpeas are off the field. For spring seeded crops, barley is 86 percent complete, durum wheat 88 percent, spring wheat 75 percent, and oats 58 percent.

The triticale harvest is essentially done at 99 percent – 89 percent of which has been allocated for livestock feed.

Oilseed crops are next, with 84 percent of mustard, 42 percent of canola, 31 percent of soybeans and 25 percent of flax in the bin.

Hladun says crop reporters were asked to record what quality of crop is being received at elevators or in the field.

The crop report notes provincially, quality is slightly above the 10-year average for peas, lentils, and durum.

Here are the reported yields: Pea grades are mainly 1 CAN at 39 percent or 2 CAN at 57 percent; this is slightly above the 10-year average of 38 percent 1 CAN and 54 percent 2 CAN. Lentils are very similar, with 31 percent of the crop 1 CAN and 57 percent 2 CAN; the 10-year average is 28 percent 1 CAN and 49 percent 2 CAN. Durum grade quality is reported at 32 percent 1 CW, 46 percent 2 CW and 22 percent 3 CW. This is ahead of the 10-year average of 34 percent 1 CW, 27 percent 2 CW and 22 percent 3 CW.

Some rain fell across the province but it was only enough to slow down combines momentarily. The North Battleford area received the most rain at 25 mm. As a result, topsoil moisture levels for cropland and hay and pasture land were unchanged: crop land moisture is 35 percent adequate, 41 percent short and 24 percent very short. Hay and pasture land is rated as 29 percent adequate, 42 percent short and 29 percent very short.

Crop damage this past week is due to light frosts in the north, drought conditions in the south and grasshoppers, according to the report.

A region-by-region breakdown is below.

Southeast 

With the dry weather entering the southeast this week, the region was able to make fantastic harvest progress, and it is now 66 per cent completed ahead of the five-year average of 64 per cent.

Spring cereals were the focus of many harvesting operations. Eighty-two per cent of spring wheat, 79 per cent of durum, 84 per cent of barley and 80 per cent of oats are harvested for the year. Producers have now turned their focus to oilseeds, where canola is 41 per cent and mustard is 70 per cent harvested for the year. Eighteen per cent of flax and 33 per cent of soybeans have been harvested. Progress in chickpeas was also made with 57 per cent of the crop harvested.

Producers are currently seeing 27 per cent of peas being graded at 1 CAN and 72 per cent being graded at 2 CAN. Lentils are currently being graded at 1 CAN at 45 per cent and 2 CAN at 48 per cent. Durum quality is still strong, with 37 per cent of the crop being graded at 1 CW and 45 per cent is 2 CW.

Minimal moisture this past week was seen in the region, with 20 mm being the most rain reported in the Moosomin area. Thirty-eight per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 36 per cent is short and 26 per cent is very short. Thirty-four per cent of hay and pastures have adequate moisture, 37 per cent are short and 28 per cent are very short.

Crop damage this week is mostly due to grasshoppers, wind damage and drought. Producers are busy combining as well as harrowing harvested fields. Others are also moving livestock, picking bales and getting ready for fall sales.

Southwest

With weeks of favourable weather, producers in the southwest region are now 93 per cent completed harvest. This is ahead of the five-year average of 77 per cent. With many combines entering their last few fields this coming week, many producers in the southwest are once again turning to the skies to look for rain.

Producers are currently finishing the few standing spring cereal fields, with 99 per cent of barley, 96 per cent of oats, 94 per cent of spring wheat and 93 per cent of durum harvested for the year. Producers are now focusing on getting their oilseeds harvested; 93 per cent of mustard and 89 per cent of canola have been harvested for the year. Ninety-three per cent of chickpeas are in the bin for the year. Flax is the most standing crop, with 42 per cent of flax harvested.

Producers are currently seeing their lentils graded as 1 CAN at 35 per cent or 2 CAN at 49 per cent. Peas are being graded at 48 per cent 1 CAN and 45 per cent 2 CAN. Durum is primarily 2 CW at 46 per cent, while some is 1 CW at 31 per cent or 3 CW at 23 per cent.

It was another dry week in the southwest, with the most rainfall recorded in the Shaunavon area, at 20 mm. Topsoil moisture continues to be limited in the region. Ten per cent of cropland has adequate topsoil moisture, 45 per cent is short and 45 per cent is very short. Twelve per cent of hay and pastures have adequate moisture, 40 per cent are short and 48 per cent are very short.

Crop damage this past week was due to grasshoppers and drought conditions. Producers are busy wrapping up harvest, applying post-harvest herbicides and working their fields for the fall. Producers are also moving cattle to graze stubble fields, hauling water and preparing feed piles for this winter.

East-Central

Spotty showers paused combining in the east-central region momentarily this week; however, harvest still advanced in the region. The east-central is now 54 per cent harvested, ahead of the five-year average of 44 per cent.

Producers have harvested a large amount of spring cereals this past week; barley is 76 per cent harvested, durum is 66 per cent, spring wheat is 64 per cent and 40 per cent of oats are harvested. With spring cereals entering the bins, many producers are looking at their canola fields. Fifty-six per cent of mustard, 33 per cent of canola and 20 per cent of flax is also off for the year. Twenty-two per cent of chickpeas are harvested so far this season.

Producers are starting to sell grain and are seeing their durum being graded at 2 CW at 62 per cent and 3 CW at 28 per cent. This could be partially due to reports of grain sprouting from the recent moisture. Peas are being graded at 1 CAN at 53 per cent and 2 CAN at 44 per cent. Lentils are being graded at 2 CAN at 55 per cent and 1 CAN at 31 per cent.

Spotty showers made things humid and damp in the region this week, although minimal rain was recorded. The most rain recorded was 12 mm in the Esterhazy area. Topsoil moisture in the region is replenishing, with 55 per cent of cropland having adequate moisture, 33 per cent is short and 12 per cent is very short. Forty-six per cent of hay and pasture have adequate moisture, 40 per cent is short and 14 per cent is very short.

Crop damage this week is mostly due to some light frosts, drought conditions and grasshoppers. Producers are busy combining, swathing and desiccating canola. Producers are also working cattle and hauling bales and water.

West-Central

The west-central region now has 78 per cent of this year’s crop off, and the end of harvest is looming on the horizon. The region is ahead of the five-year average of 60 per cent.

Producers are taking off the last of their spring cereals this week and are now focusing on their oilseeds. Barley is 91 per cent harvested, durum is at 88 per cent, spring wheat at 85 per cent and oats at 64 per cent. Canola is 59 per cent harvested, while mustard is 58 per cent and flax is 34 per cent. Soybeans are 90 per cent harvested for the year and chickpea harvest was completed this week.

Producers are starting to market their grain and are seeing their durum being rated as 1 CW at 45 per cent or 2 CW at 40 per cent. Peas are being graded at 2 CAN at 59 per cent or 1 CAN at 38 per cent. Lentils are being graded at 2 CAN at 77 per cent, while some are being graded at 1 CAN at 19 per cent.

While spotty showers moved through the region, minimal rain was reported. The Sonningdale area received the most moisture this week, with 12 mm being recorded. Topsoil moisture continues to be limited; 17 per cent of cropland has adequate moisture, 45 per cent is short and 38 per cent is very short. Hay and pasture moisture is also limited; five per cent have adequate moisture, 42 per cent are short and 53 per cent are very short.

Crop damage this past week is due to grasshoppers, drought and waterfowl stopping in fields on their migration south. Producers are busy combining their remaining fields, applying post-harvest herbicides and working fields. Producers are also marketing cattle, assessing feed supplies and moving cattle to stubble fields.

Northeast

The northeast has crossed the half-way point this week, and the region harvest is now 55 per cent complete. This is ahead of the five-year average of 37 per cent.

Producers are finishing their spring cereals this week and are turning their focuses onto their oilseeds. The region has 100 per cent of durum, 91 per cent of barley 77 per cent of spring wheat and 67 per cent of oats harvested for the year. Canola is 26 per cent harvested, while minimal progress has been made on flax. Fifty per cent of the region’s chickpeas are off for the year.

Producers are seeing their lentils being graded at 2 CAN. Their peas are mainly 2 CAN at 70 per cent or 3 CAN at 16 per cent. Some untimely rains made harvesting wheat at the best stage difficult and resulted in some sprouted grain, causing most durum to be rated at Other.

Minimal rain fell in the northeast this week, with Humboldt receiving the most at seven mm. Topsoil moisture is adequate in the region. Seventy-eight per cent of cropland has adequate moisture and 22 per cent is short. Similarly, 66 per cent of hay and pastureland has adequate moisture and 34 per cent is short.

Crop damage this past week is due to light frosts and wildlife damage. Producers are busy combining and applying post-harvest herbicides. Producers are also moving cattle and preparing for winter.

Northwest

Harvest in the northwest is now 39 per cent complete, up from 21 per cent last week and ahead of the five-year average of 30 per cent. While some producers had to pause harvest for moisture levels to improve, many producers in the northwest are pleased with harvest so far.

Producers are focusing on their spring cereals while they wait for their canola swaths to dry down. Barley is 67 per cent harvested, spring wheat is 52 per cent complete and oats is 37 per cent complete for the year. Flax is currently 26 per cent harvested, while canola is 18 per cent complete and 53 per cent is in swath.

Producers have begun selling grain and are getting their first grades back for the year. Lentils are being graded at 2 CAN at 56 per cent while some are 3 CAN 34 per cent. Peas are mostly being graded at 2 CAN at 77 per cent, with some being graded at 3 CAN at 16 per cent.

The North Battleford area received the most rain in the province this week, with 25 mm being reported. Topsoil moisture has increased this week, with 48 per cent of cropland having adequate moisture, 48 per cent is short and four per cent is very short. Thirty-nine per cent of hay and pastures have adequate topsoil moisture, 55 per cent is short and six per cent is very short.

Crop damage this past week is due to light frosts and excess moisture. Producers are busy swathing, combining and monitoring moisture levels. Producers are also moving bales, working livestock and marketing cattle.