The lack of moisture last week helped producers get more of the crop off the field and into the bin.

The provincial crop report says 61 per cent of harvest is complete, a jump from 42 per cent the previous and well ahead of the five and ten year averages.

The southwest is the furthest along at 85 per cent complete, followed by the southeast at 65 per cent, west-central 54 per cent, the northwest 49 per cent, the east-central 46 per cent and the northeast at 34 per cent.

Crops Extension Specialist with the Ministry of Agriculture Meghan Rosso says harvest is nearly complete among winter cereal crops, triticale, lentils and field peas. Here is each crop’s progress from the report: Durum is 83 per cent harvested, barley is 70 per cent harvested, spring wheat is 60 per cent harvested, oats are 53 per cent harvested and canary seed are 32 per cent harvested. Chickpeas are estimated to be 76 per cent harvested. For oilseed crops, mustard is the furthest advanced at 84 per cent harvested, followed by canola at 28 per cent and flax at 22 per cent harvested.

Rosso says crop yield and quality continue to be variable around the province due to scattered rainfall throughout the growing season. Here are the latest grades: Pea grades are mainly 2 CAN at 58 per cent with 39 per cent at 1 CAN; this is slightly above the 10-year average of 53 per cent 2 CAN and 39 per cent 1 CAN.

Similarly, lentil grades are mainly 2 CAN at 69 per cent with 25 per cent at 1 CAN; the 10-year average is 49 per cent 2 CAN and 27 per cent 1 CAN. Durum grade quality is reported at 28 per cent 1 CW, 36 per cent 2 CW and 23 per cent 3 CW. The 10-year average for durum grade quality is 36 per cent 1 CW, 27 per cent 2 CW and 20 per cent 3 CW. Quality for barley is reported at 27 per cent malt, 48 per cent 1 CW and 25 per cent 2 CW/sample. The 10-year average for barley is reported at 29 per cent malt, 51 per cent 1 CW and 20 per cent 2 CW/sample.

Rosso says the lack of rain dropped adequate topsoil moisture levels considerably. Currently, cropland topsoil moisture is rated as one per cent surplus, 33 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 23 per cent very short. Hayland is rated as one per cent surplus, 26 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 30 per cent very short. Pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 17 per cent adequate, 43 per cent short and 40 per cent very short.

The Meadow Lake area reported the most rainfall at just 16 mm, followed by the Yellow Creek and North Battleford areas that both reported 10 mm. The remaining areas of the province received less than 10 mm, with many receiving little to no rain.

Rosso says crop damage was similar to last week – migratory birds and wind – along with an increase in grasshoppers in some areas with damage reported as minor to moderate.

She also reminds farmers to be careful during harvest as there have been multiple reports of combine fires as a result of the lack of rain.