UNITY - More producers completed their harvest operations this past week after another week of dry weather allowed for the last of their crop to be harvested without interruption. Harvest progress is currently at 99 per cent and well ahead of the five-year average of 88 per cent. Another fast harvest can be attributed to the extremely dry conditions in much of the region and how poor some of the crop was.
There was little rain over the past week and many producers are hoping for rain before winter comes. More importantly, they are hoping for very large rain next spring. Without significant rainfall, producers will not be able to begin the 2023 season with enough moisture. Moisture conditions in the region continue to become more desperate week to week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as eight per cent adequate, 45 per cent short and 47 per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as eleven per cent adequate, 41 per cent short and 48 per cent very short.
Crop yield estimates for parts of the region are higher than anticipated due to some producers getting the rains they needed at the right time, for others their yields clearly indicate they had very little rain. For the region, hard red spring wheat is yielding 33 bu/ac, durum 29 bu/ac, barley 39 bu/ac, flax 19 bu/ac, canola 26 bu/ac and lentils 1,174 lb/ac. While yields were disappointing for many, quality for hard red spring wheat was rated as 86 per cent 1CW, 13 per cent 2CW, and two per cent 3CW.
There was not much crop damage this week due to most of the crop being harvested already, pastures continue to suffer through extremely dry conditions and many may need to be rested in 2023 if adequate moisture is not received. Farmers are busy finishing up combining, harrowing, and hauling grain or bales and many more postharvest activities.
