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 September 18 to 24, 2018
Another cool and damp week has held up harvest in most areas of the region. Some swathing and combining has occurred in between rain showers, and where less moisture was reported. Crops that were taken off in the last couple of weeks have been tough and damp and are being aerated and dried in storage. Thirty-four per cent of the crop is now combined, up from 29 per cent last week. The five-year (2013-2017) average of 53 per cent for this time of year.
Rainfall ranged from none (Spruce Home area) to 32 mm (Vonda area). The Nipawin area received 8 mm, the Humboldt area 20 mm, the Melfort area 27 mm, the Kinistino area 6 mm and the Prince Albert area 9 mm. The Nipawin area has received the most precipitation (417 mm) in the region since April 1.
Cropland topsoil moisture is currently rated as six per cent surplus, 81 per cent adequate and 13 per cent short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture is rated as 90 per cent adequate and 10 per cent short.
Geese are starting to show up on swathed crops. The wet weather has caused bleaching, staining and sprouting in some crops. Grain dryers are running constantly to bring the crop moisture down for safe storage.
Producers are busy hauling hay and waiting for weather conditions to improve.
