Jamac News Services

The 2018 harvest is between 32 to 60 per cent complete for producers across the west central region and work in the field will continue for area growers.

According to a crop report from Saskatchewan Agriculture, 32 per cent of the crop is in the bin in the west central region and it is well ahead of the five-year average of 22 per cent for this time of year. Kindersley, Eston, Major, Rosetown, Kerrobert, Macklin, Wilkie, Biggar and Outlook are in the west central region.

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In the southwestern region, the harvest is moving along quickly with 60 per cent of the crop in the bin. Producers in southwestern Saskatchewan are even further ahead of the five-year average of 42 per cent completion for this time of year. Elrose, Kyle and Leader are in the southwestern region.

The ministry of agriculture releases a crop report each Thursday during the harvest and the crop report featured herein covers the period of Aug. 28 to Sept. 3. Another 32 per cent of crops were swathed or ready to cut in the west central region.

The Kindersley area has received the most rainfall in the region with a total of 320 mm of precipitation since April 1. A prolonged lack of moisture has caused crops to ripen quickly, and pastures and hay fields still need moisture to help them recover from the dryness.

Topsoil moisture conditions in the region continue to deteriorate and, for cropland, it is rated as 10 per cent adequate, 58 per cent short and 32 per cent very short. Pasture and hay land topsoil is seven per cent adequate, 44 per cent short and 49 per cent very short. Moisture and wind continue to damage crops in the region, but there have been reports of immature crops being damaged by frost.

In the southwestern region, an additional 16 per cent of crops were swathed or ready to be cut by Sept. 3, and strong winds in the region have also contributed to the crop damage to go along with damage caused by a lack of moisture.

Much of the region experienced cool temperatures and light rain throughout the week, but several pastures and hay fields are still in need of precipitation to recover. According to the report, the Vanguard area has received the most rainfall in the region with a total of 229 mm of precipitation since April 1.

Topsoil moisture conditions have deteriorated since the previous crop report period ending on Aug. 27. As for cropland, topsoil moisture is rated as six per cent adequate, 53 per cent short and 41 per cent very short. Pasture and hay land topsoil is three per cent adequate, 49 percent short and 48 per cent very short. The most recent crop report would have come out yesterday, and it is now available on the Government of Saskatchewan’s website.

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