Saskatchewan farmers made tremendous harvest progress this past week.

Provincial crops extension specialist Matt Struthers says 56 percent of the crop has been combined, up from 36 percent last week and ahead of the five year average of 35 percent.

Harvest ranges from 75 percent in the southwest to 37 percent in the northwest.

Estimated average yields are 27 bushels per acre for spring wheat, 19 bushels for durum, 38 bushels an acre for barley, 20 bushels for canola and 21 bushels for field peas.

Crop yields were greatly affected by drought during critical growing stages this season and yields are far lower in some areas than anticipated.

Rainfall last week ranged from a trace to 102 millimeters in the Rhein area, causing flooding and standing water in fields.

Cropland topsoil moisture dropped a bit with one percent surplus, 38 percent adequate, 38 percent short and 23 percent very short.

The majority of crop loss this past week was due to strong winds, drought, and hail.

Recent rains have downgraded some crops and some fields are so poor they will not be harvested.
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