Carter Haydu
Moose Jaw Times-Herald
Due to the weather, Moose Jaw-area farmers are a little behind schedule for this time of year and would benefit from a couple weeks of hot weather to bring in the crop, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture.
On Thursday, Saskatchewan Agriculture crop management specialist Grant McLean told the Times-Herald over the past five years, typically about 16 per cent of local crops have either been combined or are ready for combining by the last week in August.
However, cool and damp conditions have slowed the maturing process currently. McLean said only about three per cent of local crops are in the bins or ready for harvest this year. He said 10 days to two weeks of ideal weather could get farmers back on track.
While most local farmers have yet to combine their cereal crops, McLean said Moose Jaw area peas are about 30 per cent harvested and lentils about 25 per cent harvested. He added a large portion of those crops that aren't yet harvested are ready for the combine.
"I think we're looking for some real combining with those particular crops, if the weather co-operates, in the next four to five days."
Provincewide, just over three per cent of the 2009 crop has been combined, up from one per cent last week, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture's weekly crop report.
According to the report, harvest progressed slowly last week due to spotty rain showers in many areas of the province.
Thirty-seven per cent of the fall rye and 24 per cent of the winter wheat has been combined. Four per cent of the mustard, 11 per cent of the lentils and 18 per cent of the peas have been combined.
Crop land topsoil moisture in the province is rated as about eight per cent surplus, 83 per cent adequate, seven per cent short and one per cent very short. Hay land and pasture topsoil moisture conditions are rated as about two per cent surplus, 80 per cent adequate, 14 per cent short and two per cent very short.
Haying is nearly complete except in the northern regions of the province where rain has kept some producers from wrapping up the last of the 2009 hay crop.
Pasture conditions continue to improve in most areas of the province, due to the moisture received throughout the growing season.
Pasture conditions across the province are rated as about seven per cent excellent, 47 per cent good, 38 per cent fair, seven per cent poor and one per cent very poor. Livestock water supplies have also improved somewhat from last month and are rated as about 94 per cent adequate.
Grasshoppers, flooding and wind caused the majority of crop damage. Isolated hail damage was reported. Other sources of crop damage include powdery mildew and pea aphids.
Carter Haydu can be reached at 691-1265.
