Producers were able to make solid progress on harvest this week, despite rainfall in parts of the province last week. Currently, 93 per cent of crops have been harvested throughout the province, with many producers finishing last week. Harvest remains slightly behind the five-year average of 98 per cent but is ahead of the 10-year average of 87 per cent. Dry conditions over the past few weeks allowed harvest to catch up to seasonal averages.
Harvest is furthest ahead in the west-central region with 96 per cent of crops harvested. Following closely are the southwest and northwest regions with 95 per cent of crops off. Harvest progress sits at 93 per cent complete in the east-central and northeast, while harvest is 92 per cent complete in the southeast.
Nearly all winter cereal and pulse crops have been harvested. The only pulse crop with notable unharvested acres is chickpeas which is 70 per cent harvested. For spring cereals, only a few crops remain in the field. Harvest is 98 per cent complete for spring wheat and barley, while 96 per cent of the durum and oat crops are off. For oilseeds, 91 per cent of the mustard, 89 per cent of the canola, 70 per cent of the soybeans and 60 per cent of the flax crops have been harvested.
Current crop yields are similar to last month, as average provincial yields remain above historical averages for most crop types. However, yields vary throughout the province due to regional rainfall levels and agronomic challenges during the growing season. Provincially, hard red spring wheat yielded 51 bushels per acre, durum yielded 41 bushels per acre, oats yielded 92 bushels per acre, and barley yielded 71 bushels per acre. For pulse crops, field peas yielded 42 bushels per acre, lentils yielded 1,922 pounds per acre and chickpeas yielded 1,817 pounds per acre. Notable amounts of oilseed crops are still being combined, but canola is currently yielding 42 bushels per acre, mustard is yielding 1,192 pounds per acre and flax is yielding 26 bushels per acre.
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