Farmers in the Lloydminster region are making progress in harvesting after getting a fair amount of rain this past week.
According to the Saskatchewan Crop Report, two per cent of crop has been combined in the northwest region and another eight per cent has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut. Ten per cent of field peas, four per cent of oats, three per cent of barley and one per cent of lentils have been combined. Seven per cent of canola and one per cent of spring wheat has been swathed. Flax crops are at 100 per cent standing.
Provincially, 15 per cent of crop is combined, which is up from four per cent last week. Another 16 per cent is swathed or ready to straight-cut.
Areas west of Turtleford received the highest amount of rain in the province during the week of August 18 to 24. Lloydminster received 45 mm, Glaslyn had 30 mm and North Battleford received six mm of precipitation. The St. Walburg area continues to have received the most rainfall since April 1 with a total of 471 mm.
The rainfall caused the moisture conditions in these areas to be rated more as surplus. Cropland topsoil moisture in the northwest region is rated as five per cent surplus, 68 per cent adequate, 19 per cent short and eight per cent very short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as seven per cent surplus, 63 per cent adequate, 20 per cent short and 10 per cent very short.
Pasture conditions are rated as 11 per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 32 per cent fair and 10 per cent poor.
Crop damage this week came from wind, bertha armyworms, wildlife and localized flooding. Farmers will be hauling grain, getting equipment ready, swathing and desiccating in areas, combining earlier maturing crops and waiting for the rest to mature.