Crop District 8 – Hudson Bay, Tisdale, Melfort, Carrot River, Humboldt, Kinistino, Cudworth and Aberdeen areas;
Crop District 9AE – Prince Albert, Choiceland and Paddockwood areas
For the Period October 9 to 15, 2018
Despite another week of cool and wet weather, producers in the northeast have made tremendous harvest progress. Seventy-nine per cent of the crop is now in the bin, up from 64 per cent last week but remaining well behind the five-year (2013-2017) average of 90 per cent for this time of year. Almost all of the crops are coming off tough or damp and are being placed into dryers when available. With warm and dry weather in the forecast, many producers expect to complete combining in the next week or two.
Both rain and snow were reported last week, with the Nipawin area receiving 17 mm. The Arborfield area received 10 mm of precipitation, the Humboldt area 6 mm, the Bruno area 4 mm, the Vonda area 5 mm and the Melfort area 1 mm. The Nipawin area has received the most precipitation (458 mm) in the region since April 1.
Topsoil moisture conditions on cropland are rated as 19 per cent surplus, 76 per cent adequate, four per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 12 per cent surplus, 84 per cent adequate and four per cent short.
The majority of crop damage this past week was due to lodging from snow and rain; downgrading is expected at the elevator due to bleaching and sprouting. Some standing crops such as canola have shelled out from wind, and wildlife and geese have been feeding on swathed crops.
Producers are busy combining, drying grain, hauling bales and completing fall field work.
