Lloydminster farmers made a lot of progress harvesting this past week as 13 per cent of crop on the Saskatchewan side has now been combined.
It’s a ten per cent increase from the previous week, according to the Saskatchewan Crop Report. Twenty-one per cent of crops in the North Battleford-Shellbrook-Hafford district have been combined. A total of 18 per cent in the northwest region has been combined which is slightly below the five-year average of 22 per cent.
Another 58 per cent of crop in the northwest region has been swathed or is ready to straight-cut. Provincially, 62 per cent of total crop are in the bin, ahead of the five-year average of 48 per cent this time of year.
In the northwest region, 80 per cent of field peas, 18 per cent of barley, 12 per cent of spring wheat, five per cent of oats and four per cent of canola has been combined. Fifty per cent of flax is ready to straight combine.
Rainfall was minimal in the area from September 8th to the 14th. The Barthel area received the highest amount of rain with one millimetre. Topsoil moistures conditions remain in good condition.
Cropland topsoil moisture is rated as two per cent surplus, 79 per cent adequate and 19 per cent short. Hay and pasture land topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 75 per cent adequate, 16 per cent short and eight per cent very short.
Cooler temperatures have slowed down crop drying and farmers are hoping for dryer conditions for the rest of the harvest. Most crop damage came from frost, wind and wildlife. Farmers will continue combining and swathing as well as grain drying and moving bales.