Local farms were able to gain major headway with harvest due to dry, warm weather over the past week.
According to Saskatchewan Agriculture, producers made significant progress from last week with a 23 per cent increase to 65 per cent of crops now in the bin for the Northwest region. The region still remains behind the five-year average of 80 per cent for this time of year.
The majority of the region received little to no rainfall this week. Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as five per cent surplus, 85 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 88 per cent adequate and 11 per cent short.
The main source of crop damage this week was due to strong winds. There have been reports of wildlife feeding on swathed crops.
At this time, livestock producers indicate they are prepared for winter with adequate supplies of hay, straw, greenfeed and feed grain.
The crop report says the region will need several more weeks of warm and dry weather to get the rest of the crop off.
Provincially, most farmers returned to the field for harvest to the favorable weather. 69 per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 55 per cent last week. The five-year average is 88 per cent combined for this time of year.